The shortlist for this year’s Mecury Music Prize was announced in London yesterday – and as always there’s an eclectic mix of nominated albums. Newcomers Electric Soft Parade, The Streets and The Bees sit alongside Bowie’s latest album, while Roots Manuva and Beverly Knight ensure the British black music sector is covered. On the non-pop side there’s Joanna MacGregor’s ‘Play’ and jazz trumpeter and composer Guy Barker’s ‘Soundtrack’.
Simon Frith, the Chair of Judges, said, on announcing the short list: “This is the most joyful Mercury shortlist for years, suggesting a sea-change at the heart of British music. British artists are seizing the centre stage of contemporary urban music with snap and swagger, while the next generation of guitar bands mine the musical archive with a zest and vigour once only the province of DJs.”
It’s a good list for EMI who get two listings – Beverley Knight on Parlophone and Doves on Heavenly - but the main winner is the independent sector, with a high number coming from non-major labels, including Wall Of Sound, Db Records, Source UK, Big Dada and 679.
The list is full is:
Beverley Knight - 'Who I Am' (EMI/Parlophone)
The Bees - 'Sunshine Hit Me' (Wall Of Sound / We Love You)
The Coral - 'The Coral' (Deltasonic)
David Bowie - 'Heathen' (Sony / Iso Records)
Doves - 'The Last Broadcast' (EMI / Heavenly)
Electric Soft Parade - 'Holes In The Wall' (Db Records)
Gemma Hayes - 'Night On My Side' (Source)
Guy Barker - 'Soundtrack' (Provocateur Records)
Joanna Macgregor - 'Play' (Sound Circus)
Ms. Dynamite - 'A Little Deeper' (Polydor)
Roots Manuva - 'Run Come Save Me' (Big Dada Recordings)
The Streets - 'Original Pirate Material' (679 Recordings)
The winner will be announced at the Mercury Prize Show on Tue 17 Sep with coverage on BBC2, BBC4 and BBC Radio 1. Press information from Coalition (national press), outside Media (national tv / radio), Pomona (regional press), Red Alert (regional radio & TV) or from the Mercury Music Prize direct on 0161 834 7434. Contact details for PRs in CMU: The Update.