Adele, Elbow and Tinie Tempah are among the artists battling it out for the 2011 Barclaycard Mercury Prize.
Chosen from more than 240 different records, Adele’s ’21’ – which has already become the biggest selling digital album of all time in the US – ‘Build A Rocket Boys’ by Elbow and Tinie Tempah’s debut album ‘Disc-Overy’ are among the 12 shortlisted acts in the running to bag the coveted music award.
They are joined by PJ Harvey’s ‘Let England Shake’, Katy B’s ‘On A Mission’, James Blake’s self-titled debut album, ‘The English Riviera’ by Metronomy and Everything Everything’s ‘Man Alive’.
Also making up the shortlist of 12 are Anna Calvi’s self-titled record, Ghostpoet’s ‘Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam’, ‘Good Days at Schloss Elmau’ by Gwilym Simcock and finally ‘Diamond Mine’ by King Creosote and Jon Hopkins.
Simon Frith, chairman of the judging panel, said: “This year’s Barclaycard Mercury Prize shortlist highlights the remarkable possibilities of what can be achieved with music – the grand gesture and telling detail, albums that are dramatic, ambitious and artful, emotional and affectionate, funny and profound.
“Much of the music here evokes a sense of place and time, providing a wonderful snapshot of
Britain’s varied musical life.”
The eventual winner will be announced at the 2011 Barclaycard Mercury Prize Awards Show, which will be hosted by Lauren Laverne on September 6.