The 2015 Mercury Prize ‘Albums of the Year’ in association with BBC Music were announced on Friday, October 16.
The 2015 Albums of the Year are:
Syro – Aphex Twin
At Least For Now – Benjamin Clementine
Architect – C Duncan
Eska – Eska
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful – Florence + The Machine
Matador – Gaz Coombes
Shedding Skin – Ghostpoet
In Colour – Jamie xx
Hairless Toys – Róisín Murphy
Are You Satisfied? – Slaves
Before We Forgot How To Dream – SOAK
My Love Is Cool – Wolf Alice
“This year’s Mercury Prize shortlist includes seven debut albums and it celebrates artists from every stage of their careers”, says Simon Frith, Chair of Judges. “These musicians come from a fascinating variety of musical places, cultures and histories. What they have in common is the ambition and the craft, the ideas and the imagination to make great music!”
Along with all of the debut albums, three veteran artists made it to the final cut in a field that is usually full of younger artists. Aphex Twin was nominated for his comeback album Syro, former Jennifers and Supergrass vocalist Gaz Coombes for Matador and former Moloko singer Róisín Murphy for Hairless Toy.
The Mercury Prize celebrates a year in UK music. The shortlist, chosen from an entry of over 290 albums, was announced by presenter and broadcaster Lauren Laverne during her show on BBC Radio 6Music.
Plans for this year’s Awards Show have also been confirmed. Prior to the awards, an eclectic series of broadcasts are scheduled across the BBC’s radio and digital platforms, which will include the 2015 Mercury Prize ‘Albums of the Year’ being showcased through a series of studio sessions featuring this year’s shortlisted artists.
The Awards Show is to be held in the Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House in London on Friday 20 November and will be hosted by Lauren Laverne. Broadcast live on BBC Four and BBC Radio 6 Music, the evening will culminate in the announcement of the overall winner of the 2015 Mercury Prize in association with BBC Music 6 Music will reflect the awards during the evening, crossing live for the big announcement.
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