The xx, Laura Marling and NZ’s Aldous Harding among 22 acts up for Impala European Album Of The Year

The xx, Laura Marling and New Zealand’s Aldous Harding are among 22 finalists from 19 countries in independent association IMPALA’s European Album Of The Year.

The awards, now in their 8th year, are based around releases on European labels.

Aldous Harding makes the list through being on a Beggars Group label, as do Britain’s The xx and rapper and producer King Krule, and Ibey a French musical duo consisting of twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz who sing in English, French, Spanish and Yoruba, a Nigerian language spoken in West Africa by their ancestors.

Sweden offers Loney Dear (aka Karin Dreijer of electronic music duo The Kni y) while indie band Gurr are based in Berlin, Surma is a solo act from Portugal and Millionaire are from Belgium.

Three are from the Balkans – (Chui I Jazz Orkestar HRT from Croatia, Marko Louis from Serbia and Slovenia’s Širom).

Helen Smith, executive chair of IMPALA, called it “a great shortlist from all over Europe. There is a good mix of new artists and more established acts. It will be a very tight vote.”

The nominated albums are:

Aldous Harding – Party (4AD)

André Hazes – Wijzer (8Ball Music)

Cezinando – Noen Ganger Og Andre (111KLUBB)

Chui I Jazz Orkestar Hrt – Chui Ovu Glazbu (Dancing Bear)

Coez – Faccio Un Casino (Coez / Undamento)

D/Troit – Soul Sound System (Crunchy Frog)

Fever Ray – Plunge (Rabid Records)

Gurr – In My Head (Duchess Box Records)

Hangszersimogato – Varazslasok (Egyseg Media)

Ibeyi – Ash (XL Recordings)

Kaukolampi – 1 (Svart Records)

King Krule – The Ooz (XL Recordings)

Laura Marling – Semper Femina (More Alarming Records)

Loney Dear – Loney Dear (Real World Records)

Marko Louis – Beskraj (Lampshade Media)

Millionaire – Sciencing (Unday Records /N.E.W.S.)

Orelsan – La Fête Est Finie (7th Magnitude / 3ème Bureau / Wagram Music)

Širom – I Can Be A Clay Snapper (Tak:til)

Super Besse – La Nuit* (I Love You Records)

Surma – Antwerpen (Omnichord Records)

The xx – I See You (Young Turks)

Xoel Lopez – Sueños y Pan (Esmerarte/Altafonte)

Last month IMPALA called for an ambitious industrial policy for the cultural and creative sectors, one of Europe’s main assets.

Europe is the second largest “cultural and creative industry” market in the world, accounting for over 7 million jobs and 4% of Europe’s GDP.

The association believes the sector could achieve much more with a new strategy in Europe.

“A new European industrial policy would boost Europe through culture and creativity,” said Helen Smith.

“Europe is home to some of the world’s leading artists, composers, film directors, designers… the list goes on, and includes their partners in their respective fields such as labels, publishers, producers, etc.

“This is a unique sector where Europe is highly competitive, and we should build on our strengths.

“Europe should capitalise on the current momentum, and place culture at the top of their agenda.

“The added value is not just economic, it’s also a vehicle for EU values and what Europe stands for: a diverse, yet united group of countries bound by culture”.

IMPALA and other cultural organisation have been calling for a doubling of the current budget for culture. Today this is 0.15% of the overall European Union budget.