Glasvegas in contention for Mercury Music Prize

Published on Tuesday 21 July 2009 13:23

SCOTTISH rockers Glasvegas have been nominated for this year's Mercury Prize for their self-titled debut album.

Other contenders for the prize include Kasabian and Brit-winning Florence And The Machine as the shortlist was announced today.

The list of 12 releases – which tend to see a huge boost in sales as a result of inclusion – features only one act which has previously been on the list, Bat For Lashes.

But hotly-tipped acts such as Doves, White Lies and Little Boots have been snubbed by the judging panel for this year's award, officially called the Barclaycard Mercury Prize which will be decided on September 8.

The list is dominated by debut releases – seven out of 12 – including Speech Therapy by south London rapper Speech Debelle, whose experiences living in hostels have infused her lyrics. Other debuts include the self-titled releases by electronic trio Friendly Fires and the chart duo La Roux.

Leicester quartet Kasabian have made the list for the first time with their third album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, while Glasvegas are included for their eponymous first release.

Florence Welch, better known under her stage name Florence And The Machine, builds on her Critics' Choice award at this year's Brit Awards by being shortlisted for her first album Lungs.

Bat For Lashes, aka Natasha Khan, previously made the shortlist in 2007 with her debut album Fur And Gold.

The nominees are judged by an independent panel to be the key albums of the year regardless of how well they have sold.

Previous winners of the award have included Pulp, Franz Ferdinand and Klaxons. The prize has often been seen as a kiss of death for many acts who fail to find a commercially successful follow-up, but last year's winners Elbow notably bucked the trend for fourth album the Seldom Seen Kid which has been their biggest release to date and completely revitalised their career.

The Horrors – featuring Peaches Geldof's ex Faris Badwan – have overcome accusations of style over substance with their My Bloody Valentine-style second album Primary Colours recognised by the judges.

Judges often uncover a quirkily recorded entry, this year with Sweet Billy Pilgrim's album Twice Born Men which was recorded by three session musicians on a laptop in a garden shed and released by former Japan star David Sylvian's label.

The award is often accused of tokenism for including folk and jazz entries. This year's jazz offering is from Led Bib for third album Sensible Shoes, while Irish musician Lisa Hannigan – who hand-stitched the cover of her album Sea Sew – flies the flag for folk.

The shortlist is as follows:

• Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

• The Horrors – Primary Colours

• Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires

• Glasvegas – Glasvegas

• La Roux – La Roux

• Florence And The Machine – Lungs

• Bat For Lashes – Two Suns

• Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew

• The Invisible – the Invisible

• Led Bib – Sensible Shoes

• Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men

• Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy