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David Bowie, Jake Bugg and Laura Mvula in Mercury race David Bowie, Jake Bugg and Laura Mvula in Mercury race
(35 minutes later)
Rock legend David Bowie and newcomers Laura Mvula and Jake Bugg are among the nominees for the 2013 Barclaycard Mercury Prize.Rock legend David Bowie and newcomers Laura Mvula and Jake Bugg are among the nominees for the 2013 Barclaycard Mercury Prize.
The competition, which names the best British and Irish album of the year, also includes Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Laura Marling, Rudimental and Savages.The competition, which names the best British and Irish album of the year, also includes Arctic Monkeys, Foals, Laura Marling, Rudimental and Savages.
Completing the list are Disclosure, Jon Hopkins, James Blake and Villagers.Completing the list are Disclosure, Jon Hopkins, James Blake and Villagers.
"It's been a great year," said BBC 6 Music's Lauren Laverne, as she revealed the shortlist for the £20,000 prize."It's been a great year," said BBC 6 Music's Lauren Laverne, as she revealed the shortlist for the £20,000 prize.
"It's always a challenging task to decide a shortlist of just 12 releases and that has been made all the more difficult by the sheer volume and quality of music that's been released.""It's always a challenging task to decide a shortlist of just 12 releases and that has been made all the more difficult by the sheer volume and quality of music that's been released."
The finalists were chosen from more than 220 albums, submitted to the panel by their record labels. A winner will be announced on 30 October in London.The finalists were chosen from more than 220 albums, submitted to the panel by their record labels. A winner will be announced on 30 October in London.
Bookmakers William Hill have installed Bowie as the favourite alongside the Arctic Monkeys album AM.Bookmakers William Hill have installed Bowie as the favourite alongside the Arctic Monkeys album AM.
Released this week, AM follows the Sheffield four-piece's second headline slot at Glastonbury in June. Released this week, AM follows the Sheffield quartet's second headline slot at Glastonbury in June, and a performance at last summer's Olympic opening ceremony.
Drummer Matt Helders, described it as "the album we've always been waiting to make".
The group said they were "delighted and hugely flattered" by the nomination.The group said they were "delighted and hugely flattered" by the nomination.
Bowie, aged 66 years, eight months and 3 days, is the Mercury Prize's oldest nominee, beating renowned jazz pianist Stan Tracey by a month.Bowie, aged 66 years, eight months and 3 days, is the Mercury Prize's oldest nominee, beating renowned jazz pianist Stan Tracey by a month.
The singer broke a 10-year silence in the early hours of 6 January this year by releasing a new single, Where Are We Now. The Ziggy Stardust singer broke a 10-year silence in the early hours of 6 January this year by releasing a new single, Where Are We Now.
It preceded his 24th studio album, The Next Day, recorded in secret over two years with long-time producer Tony Visconti.It preceded his 24th studio album, The Next Day, recorded in secret over two years with long-time producer Tony Visconti.
He has never won the Mercury, which is now in its 21st year, whereas the Arctic Monkeys picked up the accolade in 2006 for their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. He has never won the Mercury, now in its 21st year, whereas the Arctic Monkeys picked up the accolade in 2006 for their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.
Last year, indie rock band and early favourites Alt-J picked up the prestigious accolade for their debut album An Awesome Wave. At the announcement, most artists were in awe of the prospect of Bowie attending October's ceremony.
BBC sound of nominee Laura Mvula is among five debut artists nominated, for the critically acclaimed Sing To The Moon. "It's surreal to be on the same shortlist," said electronic artist James Blake. "But its a testament to how inventive and effortless [he is]."
Others include 19-year-old singer Bugg, dance duo Disclosure, made up of brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence, electronic quartet Rudimental and the four-piece female post-punk guitar band, Savages. "But what would be better out of meeting him and winning the Mercury? Winning the Mercury."
Nominee Jon Hopkins, who has collaborated with Brian Eno and Coldplay, gets his second Mercury nod, this time for his album Immunity, released in June. Sales boost
Only five of this year's nominees are in the running for the first time.
Among them is BBC Sound Of 2013 candidate Laura Mvula, whose critically-acclaimed Sing To The Moon mixes soul melodies, orchestral flourishes and gospel chants.
Others include 19-year-old singer Bugg, dance duo Disclosure, exuberant dance outfit Rudimental and the four-piece female guitar band, Savages.
Confessional singer-songwriter Laura Marling, on the other hand, notches up her third nomination at the age of just 23.
Jon Hopkins, who has collaborated with Brian Eno and Coldplay, gets his second commendation, this time for his expansive techno album, Immunity.
He said: "I am a bit stunned to have been nominated this year. For an album of not exactly hummable electronic music to get such an accolade is amazing and a total surprise."He said: "I am a bit stunned to have been nominated this year. For an album of not exactly hummable electronic music to get such an accolade is amazing and a total surprise."
Simon Frith, chair of the judging panel, described the list as a celebration of "a fascinating year for British and Irish music, marked by a wonderful range of musical voices - urgent, reflective, upbeat, and tender, acoustic and electronic and all with something unique to say". Oxford quintet Foals are also on their second nomination, for the contorted rock of their fourth album Holy Fire.
A number of heavily tipped records failed to make the list, including London Grammar's If You Wait and Bad Blood from four-piece Bastille. Drummer Jack Bevan remembered the 2010 ceremony, when the band lost to The xx, as "a very weird experience".
Channel 4 will broadcast the ceremony, featuring live performances from each of the nominees, from its new home at the Roundhouse in Camden, north London, on 30 October. "Every single person in the room has the same anxiety, so you have thousands of people together who are not relaxed."
The four-year agreement with the broadcaster also includes a series of intimate Album of the Year Live gigs around London from the 12 shortlisted acts. Despite that, bands appreciate the exposure a Mercury nomination can bring.
"It makes a huge difference," said Conor O'Brien, frontman of two-time nominees Villagers.
"Last time, many more people bought our album, many more people came to our shows.
"We just suddenly felt this mainstream interest - which was interesting for a band like us, because we don't try to write the obvious, mainstream hits. We just follow our dreams."
Simon Frith, chair of the judging panel, described the list as a celebration of "a fascinating year for British and Irish music."
The eclectic mix of artists reflects "that there is no dominant pop sound" at the moment, he told the BBC.
"You don't have Adele and all her imitators in the charts, so it's kind of an open field."
A number of heavily tipped records failed to make the list, including London Grammar's If You Wait and Bad Blood from pop four-piece Bastille.
The winner will be revealed on Channel 4 next month.
They will join previous victors such as Primal Scream, PJ Harvey, Pulp and last year's winners Alt-J.