US experimental rock unit TV On The Radio emerged from New York City's visual art scene to make an immediate impact with the release of their 2003 debut EP, Young Liars. The band developed out of musical experiments performed by friends and Brooklyn neighbours Tunde Adebimpe (vocals) and David Andrew Sitek (keyboards/programming). The former was already an established animator who had directed the video for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Pin", while the latter had produced tracks for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and was also a visual artist. The music on Young Liars was originally intended as a personal project but, after gaining a limited release on the Touch & Go imprint in summer 2003, soon developed a word-of-mouth reputation. The five tracks on the EP covered a startling range of bases, drawing on post-punk, art-rock, ambient, electronica and even Afrobeat, with Adebimpe's soulful vocals providing a focal point. The EP closed with an a cappella reading of the Pixies' "Mr. Grieves" that betrayed the duo's rather unfashionable penchant for barbershop harmonising.
Adebimpe and Sitek then recruited guitarist/vocalist Kyp Malone to help them perform their music on stage, with a support slot to the Fall helping spread the gospel. The trio then began work on a debut album. The nine-track Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes, which was released by Touch & Go in March 2004, expanded on the musical and lyrical ideas first aired on the debut EP, and if only for its breadth of vision and relentless ambition was rightly hailed as one of the year's most compelling releases. In November, TV On The Radio claimed the prestigious Shortlist Prize. By now Adebimpe, Sitek and Malone had been joined by bass player Gerald Smith and drummer Jaleel Bunton.
