New York based noise pop duo Cults were one of the surprise success stories of 2011. Combining 60s Motown vocals with 90s inspired surf rock, they scratched a sonic itch we didn't even know we had. Cults' lead vocalist Madeline Follin has a younger brother, Ritchie Follin, that was a member of Cults' touring band. Well, the little brother has struck out on his own with his new project Guards which we had the opportunity to shoot in a collaborative effort with Seattle based indie-centric radio station KEXP.

Shot at the Cutting Room Studio in Greenwich Village, Guards performed a four song set of material off their forthcoming LP, their EP (which is available at their Bandcamp page), as well a 7" single. Much like Cults, Guards takes iconic sounds of the past (this time doo-wop and Pet Sounds-style chamber pop) and filters it through a wash of reverb and the lo-fi feeling that you're hearing music played from down a hallway (which just solidifies its retro feel). If you've ever wanted to hear a band that was a great pastiche of Cults, Animal Collective, and even a hint of Arcade Fire, check back in when our footage of Guards finally goes live.