Jamie xx, Florence, Aphex Twin, among Mercury Prize nominations
Jamiexx’sIn Colour, Florence & The Machine’sHow Big, How Blue, How BeautifulandAphexTwin’sSyrowere among those nominated for the Mercury Prize for the UKand Ireland’smost creative album in the past 12 months.
Also on the listto receive the £20,000(A$42, 515)cash prizewereGhostpoet’sShedding Skin,RóisínMurphy’sHairlessToys, Slave’sAre You Satisfied, Wolf Alice’sMy Love Is Cool,GazCoombes’sMatador, Benjamin Clementine’sAt Least For Now, C Duncan’sArchitect,Eska’sEskaand SOAK’sBeforeWe Forgot How To Dream.
These were chosen from anentry of over 290 albumsby an independent panel of musicians, music presenters, music producers, music journalists, festival organisers and other figures in the music industry in the UK and Ireland.
“This year’s Mercury Prize shortlist includes seven debut albums and it celebrates artists from every stage of their careers”, said veteran music journalist and broadcaster Simon Frith, Chair of Judges.
“These musicians come from a fascinating variety of musical places, cultures and histories. What they have in common is the ambition and the craft, the ideas and the imagination to make great music!”
The Awards Show is held at Broadcasting House in London on Friday November 20 and hosted by radio presenter Lauren Laverne. The show will be broadcast live on BBC Four and BBC Radio 6 Music.
In the run-up to the event, the BBC’s radio and digital platformswill feature the shortlisted artists through a series of studio sessions.
The Prize has been criticised in the past for leaning too heavily on singer-songwriters and for ignoring genres like heavy metal.
In 2015, bookmakers' favourites EverythingEverythingfailed to get a gong. Other notable absentees including Blur, Laura Marling, Foals and New Order.
Past winnersof the Prize, set up in 1992,have been PJ Harvey,alt.j, Franz Ferdinand, Primal Scream, Young Fathers, The xx, James Blake, Arctic Monkeys, Suede, Pulp, Elbow, Antony & The Johnsons and Badly Drawn Boy.
PJ Harvey is the only one to have won the Prize twice (in2001 and 2011). She ties withRadiohead as the most shortlisted artist, although Radiohead has never won the prize.GazCoombs’ nomination comes 20 years after he was nominated as a 19-year old with Supergrass.