David Bowie’s 25th and final album Blackstar, released just two days before his death in January this year, is already being touted as one of the favourites to win the overall prize when the victor is announced on September 15th.
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Among the nominees are Radiohead, Skepta, The 1975, Bat For Lashes and Savages.
Electro-jazz trio The Comet Is Coming, who feature saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, keyboardist Dan Leavers and drummer Maxwell Hallett, have been nominated for the Hyundai Mercury Music Prize for their album Channel The Spirits, on a strong and eclectic list.
Lyrics such as “Look up here, I’m in heaven” suggested that the usually oblique Bowie was referencing the illness, the extent of which he concealed.
Bowie received a posthumous nod for his Blackstar album, and Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool earned the band a record fifth nomination (Thom Yorke and Co. have never won).
Two grime albums in the shape of Skepta’s Konnichiwa and Kano’s Made In the Manor made this year’s list, reflecting an increased public interest in the genre.
Anohni could become first transgender artist to win the prize. The committee – which includes Jarvis Cocker, Radio 1’s Annie Mac and the singer Jessie Ware, according to the BBC – will winnow the list of 12 down to a smaller group of six albums.
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The six finalists and the overall victor will be announced as part of the 2016 Awards Show, which will take place on Thursday September 15, at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith. Music lovers will be able to vote for their favourite from the 12-album shortlist through an online poll, with the most popular joining five other finalists selected by the judges. Last year, singer-songwriter Benjamin Clementine took the prize.
