return to cookie mountain

tv on the radio's first album -'desperate youth, bloodthirsty babes', released in 2004 - established them as one of the most exciting and genuinely innovative bands to have emerged from the american musical underground in years. that record earned them the shortlist prize - the us equivalent of the mercury music prize - and a devoted global fanbase, thrilled by the bands blend of post-rock, soul, new york new wave and deep, dark dub. and if 'desperate youth, bloodthirsty babes' - with its moody textures and refusenik lyrics - was a question mark, follow-up album 'return to cookie mountain' is an exclamation mark. recorded at the bands own stay gold studio in brooklyn, its a thrilling sugar-rush - colourful, kaleidoscopic, wildly ambitious and genuinely celebratory. it's packed with the kind of intuitive moves that few other bands could imagine, never mind pull off, from the psychedelic, sample-drenched 'i was a lover' to the radiant ascent of 'province' and the euphoric break-down and build-up of the truly feral single 'wolf like me'. 'return to cookie mountain' features a guest appearance from self-confessed tv on the radio fan david bowie as well as labelmates kazu makino (blonde redhead) and katrina ford (celebration), not to mention most of brooklyns musical community.  american