What does everyone reckon to this year’s Mercury Prize nominations then? I’m pleased at the diversity this year, as I like a wide range of music. It’d be excellent to see Shygirl win for Nymph , as she bends beats into interesting shapes, and Sega Bodega are superb producers.Lankum are great, but I can’t imagine an Irish folk act winning, as sadly, the results are all too often skewed towards London based artists.
Young Fathers are up again, but why not Kathryn Joseph? Bah! They’re okay but they have won before and I preferred the last album Cocoa Sugar, so maybe not. Still, I wish them well as a fellow Scot.
Arctic Monkeys seem to be settling into their lounge period which is musically lush but not v excitimg, and Jessie Ware, Raye and Olivia Dean are talented, but maybe not adventurous enough for my ears. Mix it up, maybe get Four Tet or Gold Panda in to remix you! That’d be fun.
Ezra Collective are so joyful, but does wild, experimental jazz ever win? Fred Again may be in with a shout,his production imprint is everywhere. I prefer Loyle Carner to J Hus as he’s more humane, but swagger often trumps introspection.
Personally, I’d love the mighty Jockstrap to scoop the prize this year. They are original, oddball and mix up genres: kind of avant pop, soul, indie, spoken word, beats smashed up together- they defy categorisation. I Love You Jennifer B is a stunner.
Mind you, awards ceremonies are kinda balls anyway. It would be good if someone skint won the money, but the game is generally rigged.
Good luck all, hope someone worthy wins. Hmmm.
Pictured: Jockstrap, Shygirl, Loyle Carner.
Hit The North 