The Barclaycard Mercury prize is an annual award for best album; given to artists from the UK and Ireland.
It was originally set up in 1992 as an alternative to the Brit Awards and sought to recognise musicians on the merit of their music and critical appreciation, rather than record sales.
This year it’s a typically varied list with popular acts like Adele and Tinie Tempah alongside some debut albums from artist such as Everything Everything and James Blake.
You can always think of the Mercury nominations list as a barometer of what’s new and exciting the UK music scene so if you’re not familiar with any of the artists you should probably have a listen.
Here’s a run down on the nominees...
Adele – 21
Released in January, Adele’s follow up to her Grammy award winning platinum debut 19 has been a monster hit all over the world. She’s no stranger to prizes and nominations, so one could say she doesn’t need the Mercury Prize – but perhaps she deserves it?
Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi
Anna Calvi’s eponymous debut was produced by long time PJ Harvey collaborator Rob Ellis and features the legendary Brian Eno. It’s sultry, sexy and a little bit scary.
Elbow – Build a Rocket Boys!
Elbow’s fifth album gets a nomination this year. The band won the prize in 2008 for their album ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’, the same year that Adele was nominated for her debut.
Everything Everything – Man Alive
Residing in Manchester, Everything Everything is an alternative rock band who make their own videos. Man Alive is their debut record.
Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam
Ghostpoet otherwise known as Obaro Ejimiwe, a London born solo artist, wrote this record while at university in Coventry.
Gwilym Simcock – Good Days at Schloss Elmau
Jazz pianists aren’t exactly common in today’s music scene so it’s nice to see Royal Academy of Music graduate Simcock finally get a Mercury nomination.
James Blake – James Blake
Goldsmiths graduate James Blake wrote his debut record at his home in New Cross. Blending classical composition with electonica it’s a stunning debut.
Katy B – On a Mission
Hailing from Peckham Katy B is also a Goldsmiths music student. Her debut features a string of Top 5 hit singles and blends together R&B, dubstep and garage.
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Diamond Mine
King Creosote, also known as Kenny Anderson, teams up with Coldplay and Brian Eno collaborator Jon Hopkins. They spent seven years making this record, which is a love letter to Fife.
Metronomy – The English Riviera
Metronomy’s third album has brought sunshine to an otherwise very rainy Summer in England. Full of catchy pop hits, the album was written and produced by singer Joseph Mount.
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
PJ Harvey won the Mercury Prize in 2001 for her album Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. This dark and melancholic anti-war album is her fourth nomination.
Tinie Tempah – Disc-Overy
Tinie Tempah’s debut album has garnered numerous hits already and he holds the esteemed position of the first British Rap artist to have a million selling single in the US with his single ‘Written in the Stars’.
Winner of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize will be announced on September 6th.
Warren Beckett works full time as a powerful wizard, but moonlights as an onlinejournalist. He likes talking in the third person. For frequent updates on how his hair looks follow his Twitter @WarrenBeckett