Cults at Scala

When the ever-elusive Cults announced back in January that they'd signed to Name Of, even the most astute underground minds began to rattle with speculation. It wasn’t until recently that a rep from Columbia records, of which Name Of is an imprint, confirmed that the label is in fact the brainchild of none other than Lily Allen. Clothing range, vintage stores, successful pop songs and now her very own label: the girl’s keeping busy.

For Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin, the smitten Brooklyn couple who form the foundations of Cults, this is the beginning of a fairytale. Late last year the two anonymously posted recordings onto Bandcamp – no Myspace, no website and no fluffed-up hipster gimmicks to try and charm your musically over-saturated dome. A buzz was formed. Proof that when a song is good enough, all those other peripheral frills are simply unnecessary.

Tonight at the Scala, the duo is joined by three other band members. All amble on stage looking like suited-up extras from Lords of Dog Town with limp shoulder-length hair hanging lifelessly over pale complexions. But when ‘Abducted’ commences Follin and Oblivion spring to life and the veil of moodiness is lifted.

One of the set's highlights comes quickly: during the romanticism of early sixties soul influences on ‘Know What I Mean’. To place this incendiary vocal stretch so early on in their set almost seems like a waste. It’s a towering plot of heavenly perfection that you wouldn’t expect to hear from two long-haired Brooklynites. Follin’s vocals rise and rise, belting out elements of beauty that appear unexpected from even the most accomplished of singers.

Cults - You Know What I Mean by cultscultscults

‘The Curse’ displays that dormant shoegaze pout, which is unfortunately cut short, mid-mayhem, whilst ‘Go Outside’ is confirmation that Cults benefit from simplicity. It twinkles and glints, marrying their lo-fi credentials with doe-eyed pop. Xylophones and repetitive lyrics keep things grounded and at no point do these songs seem drowned out by the repeated wall-of-sound.

In this complex abyss of music, somehow Cults have married sweet pop with tones of darkness, and in turn, created a summer-heavy debut record that ascends into complete euphoria when they step onto a stage. Lily done good.

Published on Spoonfed.co.uk 25th May