Royal Blood, FKA twigs, and Bombay Bicycle Club are among the shortlist nominees for this year’s esteemed Barclaycard Mercury Prize. The shortlist is almost an even split of old guard vs new, with seven exciting debut albums nominated by buzzed about acts including East India Youth and Jungle.
The remaining five LPs belong to already established artists like Polar Bear and Damon Albarn. For Albarn, being nominated for the Mercury Prize is nothing new, having been shortlisted with both Blur and Gorillaz. Meanwhile it’s back-to-back nominations for Anna Calvi, whose debut was selected in 2011.
Chair of Judges, Simon Frith, told mercuryprize.com it’s an act’s ambition and willingness to probe beyond a single style of music that wins over the judges.
“The 2014 Barclaycard Mercury Prize shortlist confirms that these are fascinating times for UK music,” said Frith.
“What most impressed the judges was the inventive passion with which musicians explore music and emotional possibilities, refusing to be pinned down by rules or genre.”
Last year’s event saw James Blake crowned the winner for his celebrated album Overgrown.
The 2014 final winner will be revealed at London Roundhouse on 29th October.
Mercury Prize 2014 Shortlist Nominees
Anna Calvi – One Breath
Bombay Bicycle Club – So Long, See You Tomorrow
Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots
East India Youth – Total Strife Forever
FKA twigs – LP1
GoGo Penguin – v2.0
Jungle – Jungle
Kate Tempest – Everybody Down
Nick Mulvey – First Mind
Polar Bear – In Each and Every One
Royal Blood – Royal Blood
Young Fathers – Dead
