The Mercury Prize is one of the most prestigious music awards around, hailing Primal Scream, Suede, Ms. Dynamite and P J Harvey amongst its winners since 1992. Ahead of the nomination announcement on Friday 16th October, The Edge has put together a Mercury Prize list of our own.
Jamie xx – In Colour
In Colour sees Jamie xx blur the lines between soft electronica, R&B, house and dance, experimenting with key elements and moulding them to create his own distinguished aesthetic. The result of this seven-year process is an eclectic, genre-bending record worthy of praise. Henna Patel.
alt-J – This Is All Yours
An Awesome Wave, alt-J’s debut album, left a lot to live up to. This Is All Yours did so and more: a delicate and mature album that has retained all the intricacies of their debut in a more cohesive manner. Evan Smithson.
We Are The Ocean – ARK
No album this year has as much fun twisting the genre into many shapes, each as catchy as the last. The eponymous opener has the biggest and deepest rock sound of anything else from the last few years. George Seabrook.
Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool
Despite having a girl on lead vocals in a rock band full of men, this album has far more in common with The Naked And Famous’ debut than Paramore. Daring, punchy fun, and full of delightful guitar sounds. George Seabrook.
Everything Everything – Get To Heaven
Very rarely will a commercially successful record cover political topics such as the rise of Islamic State, but step forward Everything Everything. The utterly engaging Get To Heaven further demonstrated their ability to orchestrate blissful pop with serious messages. Toby Leveson.
Oh Wonder – Oh Wonder
Oh Wonder’s self-titled debut is a swirling tapestry of electro pop goodness. Each track is an uplifting anthem, complete with candid lyrics and expert production. It would be an absolute travesty if it wasn’t nominated. Hannah Mylrea.
Jessie Ware – Tough Love
Jessie Ware’s Tough Love is a sultry, authentic record, composed of both tender moody songs alongside tracks that build to epic cathartic finishes. Infusing mellow R&B with velvety soul, Ware is a British female artistic who deserves recognition for her delicious, but subtle, genre experimentation. Lewis Taplin.
SBTRKT – Wonder Where We Land
Wonder Where We Land saw London-based Aaron Jerome collaborate with an ambitious range of artists, from Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig to Sampha, developing a raw and diverse sound. The stakes were raised from his debut, and the unification of SBTRKT’s continually experimental sound is deserving of recognition. Amy Wootten.
Hot Chip – Why Make Sense?
Hot Chip’s sixth album, Why Make Sense?, bubbles with excitement and all things nonsensical. It’s a meandering weave through different styles, breaking the bounds of genre: hopping between jazz inflections, Chemical Brothers sounding electronic influences and softer melodies. Amy Wootten.
Circa Waves – Young Chasers
A near-perfect debut, fill of lyrics you can chant along with, and beautifully produced guitar riffs that hang in your head forget. It’s difficult to overstate how hard it us to be this good. George Seabrook.
Foals – What Went Down
What Went Down is a stunning mix of Foals’ old and new sound, that either simmers in the background or explodes with attention-seeking flare. Accompanied by simply poetic lyrics and flawless delivery, the album is quintessentially perfect. Emma Harrison Beesley.
