The Mercury 2011 nominations are now in. Those that have made the list include Adele, Elbow and PJ Harvey. It’s an eclectic, albeit safe, list again from the Mercury panel but here we list three albums that wrongly slipped under the judges’ radar.
Alice Gun – Blood & Bone
Recorded in London and the Lake District, there’s a real sense of drama and space to this debut album by Gun. This is created through a perfect, sparse use of instruments, mainly played by herself and focused around her cello and piano. The feel is eerie, almost scary at times, but beautifully matches her vocals to create something that could only really have come from a UK artist. Her similarities with PJ Harvey, who was nominated, perhaps put judges off. We think there was room enough on the list for both though, especially as Gun draws on far broader English folk influences.
Read our full review here.
Singing Adams – Everybody Friends Now
Featuring former Broken Family Band singer songwriter Steven Adams this UK act hark back to a golden era of indie music from the likes of Teenage Fanclub and The Wedding Present. Underpinning this debut are some damn fine tunes with Adams revealing himself consistently as one of Britain’s great modern songwriters. Shame Mercury judges failed to notice this as well.
Read our full review here.
The Leisure Society – Into the Murky Water
This very English indie pop act already have an Ivor Novello nomination under their belt and we had high hopes that this second album by the band would attract the attention of the Mercury panel. As well as some classic eccentric pop there’s once again a fine attention to production and detail.
Read our full review here.
Here’s the full list of those that did receive a Mercury nomination
Adele – 21
Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi
Elbow – Build A Rocket Boys!
Everything Everything – Man Alive
Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam
Gwilym Simcock – Good Days At Schloss Elmau
James Blake – James Blake
Katy B – On A Mission
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Diamond Mine
Metronomy – The English Riviera
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Tinie Tempah – Disc-Overy
by Joe Lepper
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