The Mercury Music Prize 2009 shortlist was released yesterday and is being greeted by pundits with some raised eyebrows (Hot contenders Doves, Little Boots and White Lies are omitted from the list) but mostly agreeing nods. The Barclaycard Mercury Prize annually represents what is thought to be the most exciting or innovative music in the UK and Ireland in the previous twelve months. The shortlist is compiled from the the submitted preferences of an independent panel of experts, regardless of how well the releases have sold. For the most part, this year’s contenders wouldn’t necessarily be said to represent particular genres. Most possess an amorphous quality which sees them traverse and fuse numerous musical styles on their individual releases. The exceptions there are be Scot rockers Glasvegas, and electro pop duo, La Roux. Another point of note is that seven of the 12 releases are debuts (which explains there is a tendency for eponymously named albums on the list).

Most striking about the 2009 shortlist though is the prevalence of female acts who have made the grade. There is a record-making five female solo artists on the shortlist and even those noisy rockers, Glasvegas, have a female drummer. One such solo entrant and flying the flag for Ireland is Lisa Hannigan, who was Damien Rice’s muse on his first two albums and has now struck out on her own with her much-acclaimed folk debut, Sea Sew.

The shortlist of 12 releases is as follows:

• Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
  Joint favourite-to-win at 5/1 according to William Hill Bookmakers. The most-recognisable act on the list have been busy supporting Oasis on tour. Their laddish rep distracts from their inventive style on this release.
• The Horrors – Primary Colours
  A five-piece from Southend-on-Sea who had previously been dismissed for style-over-substance but after suffering from critical disappointment due to over-hyping of their first album, they have returned with a second album which improves upon its predecessor.
• Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires
  Indie-disco, post-punk, alt-rock, what you want to call it. This unashamedly sophisticated pop release which is fresh and accessible.
• Glasvegas – Glasvegas
  Glaswegian working class heroes who were lumbered with over-hyped expectations prior to this debut release but thankfully still managed to deliver with an album of raw and anthmic episodes of life in one of Glasgow’s most disadvantaged and troubled neighbourhoods.
• La Roux – La Roux
  Most commercially successful act and a bookie’s favourite. 80s styled synth-pop is definitely á la mode and androgynous frontperson, Elly Jackson, and bandmate, Ben Langmeid, have hit the mainstream’s jugular since this album has reached number 2 in the British charts and single, “Bulletproof” soared to number one.
• Florence And The Machine – Lungs
  a.k.a. Florence Welsh. This freshly released debut album which features lush pop, buckets of harp accompaniment and bellowing vocals. Currently, joint favourite-to-win at 5/1 according to William Hill Bookmakers.
• Bat For Lashes – Two Suns
  a.k.a. Natasha Khan, features on the list again with sophomore effort, Two Suns, as she did in 2007 with her debut. This release features pounding and delicate piano, some additional electronic sounds, plenty of ethereal soprano and probably a few unicorns and Medieval princesses as well.
• Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew
  Singer-songwriter with throaty and breathy vocals and plenty of lush strong melodies. Hannigan also hand-stitched her own album cover. It doesn’t get more folksy than that.
• The Invisible – The Invisible
  Rockers for the art crowd with a distinctly funk/soul thread running through this debut release, which wont appeal to the masses but will garner critical acclaim.
• Led Bib – Sensible Shoes
  The only jazz act on the list. This is their third album which is characterised by euphoric jazz sounds intertwined with rock beats.
• Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men
  Sure to have the most commercial success on the back of their nomination since this trio were unheard of before yesterday’s publication of the shortlist. In fact, one bandmember was at work fitting a toilet seat when he heard the news.
• Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy
  Rap artist lauded for this debut release’s articulate and poetic flows, sweet and innocent cadence, and honest-’til-she-bleeds lyrics.

The winner of this year’s prize will be announced on September 8th and along with a massive commerical bump, will take home £20,000. Be careful betters! The winner is invariably a complete surprise, even to the judges involved in compiling the shortlist.

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