Mercury Music Prize: Scots minnows v Modfather for Mercury success

Published on Tuesday 20 July 2010 16:05

SCOTS rockers Biffy Clyro are among the contenders for one of the music industry's most prestigious awards after they were shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize yesterday.

The Ayrshire band's fifth record, Only Revolutions, will go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest names in pop music including chart veteran Paul Weller, whose latest release Wake Up the Nation has been nominated.

Hotly-tipped The xx - whose music provided the theme for the BBC's election coverage - and 40-something Mancunian trio I Am Kloot have also made their shortlist debut.

It is the first time in 16 years that Weller, who first came to prominence in the mid-70s with The Jam, has been nominated for the awards, having made it to the final 12 with Wild Wood in 1994, only to be beaten by dance-pop act M-People.

Other repeat nominees include past winner Dizzee Rascal, whose latest release Tongue in Cheek, is the third out his four recordings to make it on to the Mercury shortlist. Dizzee first won with his debut release Boy In Da Corner in 2003 and was listed in 2007 for Maths + English.

He said of his inclusion: "I feel wicked to be nominated," adding that he thought the award still had "that seal of credibility".

Also finding a repeat inclusion is Laura Marling, whose I Speak Because I Can follows her 2008 debut Alas, I Cannot Swim on to the shortlist.

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As well as a 20,000 prize, the award can be an invaluable method of raising awareness for shortlisted acts and many see a huge sales boost.

However, last year's winner, Speech Debelle, bucked the trend and failed to strike a chord with the music-buying public. Her album Speech Therapy has still to dent the top 40.

Established names on this year's list include Corinne Bailey Rae - whose album The Sea deals with how she coped following the death of her husband.

Indie-quartet Wild Beasts and Oxford's Foals also feature.

The list does have a slight folk theme with entries for Marling, Mumford & Sons and Irish act Villagers - largely a vehicle for Conor J O'Brien.

This year's jazz entry comes from pianist Kit Downes with his trio's debut release Golden.

Peter Robinson, editor of on-line music magazine Popjustice, said that the awards, now in their 18th year were still relevant to the music industry.

"The awards never set out to be about a specific thing or type of music," he said.

"It's about who makes the best album in the past 12 months. I think from year-to-year that's going to fluctuate - some years you're going to have mainstream acts Spice Girls and M-People - but it's not about being deliberately obscure [in its choice] - the 12 albums are simply the best ones created that year."

He believed, however, that The xx would be the eventual winners.

Though considered one of the highest accolades in the industry, Mr Robinson pointed out that while the award offered artists a potential platform from which to launch a career in the mainstream, it did not guarantee success unless the acts actively pursued it.

Chairman of the judging panel Simon Frith said of the year's finalists: "I think this shortlist has rather a lot of individuals doing what they want to do and a trend towards the acoustic end of performance.

"Even Biffy Clyro you could imagine playing in a small club."

He added: "It reflects a wider move towards more acoustic contemporary singer-songwriters."

The winner will be announced at a ceremony at London's Grosvenor Park Hotel in September.