The Barclaycard Mercury Prize for ‘Albums of the Year’ celebrates and promotes the best of UK music. The shortlist provides a snapshot of the year in music, recognising artistic achievement across a range of genres. For more information visit: www.mercuryprize.com
Anna Calvi ‘One Breath’
‘One Breath’ is Anna Calvi’s second album. Produced by John Congleton, it was recorded at Black Box Recording Studio, France and mixed in Dallas, Texas. The album, released by Domino in October 2013, includes the singles ‘Eliza’, ‘Suddenly’ and ‘Piece by Piece’.
‘‘One Breath’ is a majestic display of Anna Calvi’s awesome power as a composer, singer
and guitarist. Subtle, passionate and inspiring music’
Bombay Bicycle Club ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’
Formed in 2005, Bombay Bicycle Club are Jack Steadman, Jamie MacColl, Suren de Saram and Ed Nash. ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’, the fourth album by the north London based band, was released by Island Records in February 2014. It features vocal contributions from Lucy Rose and Rae Morris and includes the singles ‘Carry Me’, ‘Luna’, ‘Feel’ and ‘Come To’.
‘Bombay Bicycle Club draw on an adventurous and intriguing variety of sounds, samples and situations to make music that is glowing and infectious’
Damon Albarn ‘Everyday Robots’
‘Everyday Robots’ is Damon Albarn’s first solo album. It was produced by Richard Russell and features contributions from Brian Eno and Bat for Lashes’ Natasha Khan. Released by Parlophone in April 2014, the album includes the singles ‘Everyday Robots’, ‘Lonely Press Play’, ‘Mr Tembo’ and ‘Hollow Ponds’.
‘Damon Albarn is a master of melodic texture and songwriting. ‘Everyday Robots’ is an album of immense reflective authority. Melancholic, wise, beautiful’
East India Youth ‘Total Strife Forever’
East India Youth is 23 year old Bournemouth born William Doyle. ‘Total Strife Forever’, his self-produced, home-recorded debut album, was largely inspired by time spent living in the East India Docks area of London. Released on Stolen Recordings in January 2014, it includes the singles ‘Dripping Down’, ‘Hinterland’ and ‘Looking for Someone’.
‘Charming and continuously surprising adventures in DIY electronica. A gorgeous synthesis of experiment and emotion’
FKA twigs ‘LP1’
FKA twigs is 26 year old south London based Tahliah Barnett. The dancer turned singer, songwriter and producer, was brought up in Gloucestershire. ‘LP1’, her debut album, includes contributions from Paul Epworth, Sampha and Dev Hynes and was released by Young Turks in August 2014. It features the singles ‘Two Weeks’ and ‘Pendulum’.
‘An enthralling electro-pop record. Artful, restless and seductive’
GoGo Penguin ‘v2.0’
GoGo Penguin are Manchester based pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka and drummer Rob Turner. ‘v2.0’, the trio’s second album, was produced by Joseph Reiser and Brendan Williams and recorded in Manchester and Powys. It was released in March 2014 on Gondwana Records.
‘Innovative and fresh – a modern take on the piano trio. Breathtaking chords, driving rhythms, utterly captivating’
Jungle ‘Jungle’
Jungle, fronted by west Londoners Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland, released their self-titled and self-produced debut album in July 2014 on XL Recordings. Recorded at home and at XL’s studio, the album includes the singles ‘Platoon’, ‘Busy Earnin’’ and ‘Time’.
‘A radiant celebration of the sounds of the city. Soulful, pristine and life-enhancing’
Kate Tempest ‘Everybody Down’
‘Everybody Down’ is the debut album by 27 year old south London rapper, poet and novelist Kate Tempest. The album, which includes the single ‘The Beigeness’, was recorded in London and released in May 2014 on Big Dada. Each track on the album correlates with a chapter in her forthcoming debut novel, ‘The Bricks That Built The Houses’.
‘Compelling and moving rap poetry. A London street tale of young love, loss and longing – a stunning match of musical and lyrical detail’
Nick Mulvey ‘First Mind’
‘First Mind’ is the debut album by 28 year old Nick Mulvey. Recorded in London and produced by Dan Carey, it was released on Fiction Records in May 2014 and includes the single ‘Cucurucu’. He studied music in Havana, Cuba and is a former member of the previously shortlisted Portico Quartet.
‘A new and astonishingly gifted singer-songwriter. A delicate voice, intricate guitar playing, an ever shifting musical ambience’
Polar Bear ‘In Each and Every One’
Polar Bear are Seb Rochford, Pete Wareham, Mark Lockheart, Tom Herbert and Leafcutter John. ‘In Each and Every One’, their fifth album, was produced by Seb Rochford, who has worked with, amongst others, Paul McCartney, Beck, Yoko Ono and Damon Albarn.
The album was released by The Leaf Label in March 2014.
‘Ethereal and urgent, poignant and uplifting. Hypnotic music from one of Britain’s finest instrumental bands’
Royal Blood ‘Royal Blood’
Royal Blood are Brighton based Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher. The duo’s self-titled debut album was released in August 2014 on Black Mammoth / Warner Bros Records. Recorded in London, Wiltshire and Monmouth, it includes the singles ‘Out of the Black’, ‘Come on Over’ and ‘Figure it Out’.
‘A triumphant celebration of the primal power of rock. Intense and thrilling!’
Young Fathers ‘Dead’
Young Fathers are Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and ‘G’ Hastings. ‘Dead’, the first album by the Edinburgh based trio, features the singles ‘Low’ and ‘Get Up’. Recorded in Leith with producer Timothy London, it was released by Anticon / Big Dada in February 2014.
‘A startlingly original take on hip-hop. Brimming with ideas, a potent mix of pop, rap, rhymes and rhythms. Ominous and exciting’
The overall winner of the 2014 Prize will be announced at the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Awards Show at the Roundhouse on Wednesday 29 October 2014.