Arctic Monkeys' sixth album, Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino, has been named among the nominees for this year's Mercury prize. The nod makes them the joint second most-nominated act in the prize's history: the Sheffield band and PJ Harvey have both received four nominations since its inception in 1992, while Radiohead have five.
No Irish acts were nominated for the 2018 prize, which is awarded to the best British and Irish album of the year.
The list features a handful of other bands: Everything Everything receive their second Mercury nomination for A Fever Dream, as do Wolf Alice for Visions of a Life. Filling the Mercury prize's notorious jazz slot are London-based group Sons of Kemet for Your Queen is a Reptile, their first nomination.
“It’s great to know that our music and our ideas will have the chance to resonate with as wide an audience as the Mercury nominations permits,” said Sons of Kemet leader Shabaka Hutchings. “Our aim is to merge the music and ways of perception associated with histories of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora to the developments happening within the London music scene and propel the results outwards to the world as a force for good.”
It is a good year for first-time nominees: King Krule's experimental opus The Ooz, Nadine Shah's political post-punk statement Holiday Destination, and there are two debuts listed: grime act Novelist's Novelist Guy, and R&B star Jorja Smith's Lost and Found.
Noel Gallagher (and his High Flying Birds) receives his first solo nomination for Who Built the Moon?, but his history with the prize stretches back to the mid-1990s when Oasis were nominated for their debut album Definitely Maybe in 1995 and follow-up (What's the Story) Morning Glory? in 1996.
XL Recordings boss Richard Russell's all-star Everything Is Recorded album also marks his first nomination – however the album features Sampha, who won last year for his debut Process, and Damon Albarn, who has been nominated with Blur, Gorillaz (who rejected the nomination for their 2001 self-titled debut) and as a solo act.
There is little crossover between the shortlist and the artists tipped by the bookmakers prior to the nominees' unveiling. Paddy Power, Coral and Ladbrokes had south London band Shame tipped at 3/1 as outright winners, followed by experimental teen duo Let's Eat Grandma at 5/1. Arctic Monkeys had odds of 8/1, with alternative pop group Superorganism at 12/1 and producer Sophie at 16/1. Acclaimed albums by Leeds psychedelic band Hookworms, Welsh electronic artist Gwenno and pop iconoclast Charli XCX were also notable by their omission.
The judges for the Mercury prize are editor Phil Alexander, BBC Radio 1's Clara Amfo, broadcaster Danielle Perry, jazz musician Jamie Cullum, pop artist Ella Eyre, the Guardian Guide's deputy editor Harriet Gibsone, musician Lianne La Havas, Times critic Will Hodgkinson, DJ MistaJam, Mumford and Sons' Marcus Mumford, BBC 6Music's head of music Jeff Smith, musician Jessie Ware and Radio X head of music Mike Walsh. The panel is chaired by Jeff Smith.
The winner of the 2018 Mercury prize will be announced in London on September 20th.
Mercury Prize 2018: artists up for the album of the year award
Arctic Monkeys – 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino'
The Sheffield rockers won the prize in 2006 for their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, and have been nominated another two times – for Favourite Worst Nightmare in 2007, and AM in 2013. The Alex Turner-fronted band recently returned with their sixth album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, after a hiatus that lasted several years, and the record – while drawing mixed reviews from critics – debuted at the top of the charts in May.
Lily Allen – 'No Shame'
This is the first Mercury Prize nomination for the singer-songwriter, whose latest album was released in June and peaked at number eight in the charts. It came after a four-year break following her 2014 album Sheezus, and the electropop-inspired album includes collaborations with the likes of rapper Giggs, and has personal songs about the breakdown of her marriage, her maternal guilt and other troubles.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds – 'Who Built The Moon?'
The Manchester rock star's band, formed in 2010 following the break-up of Oasis, dropped their third album in November to rave reviews, topping the charts. This is the first Mercury nomination for Gallagher's group, although he was nominated twice with Oasis – in 1995 for Definitely, Maybe and in 1996 for (What's The Story) Morning Glory.
Jorja Smith – 'Lost And Found'
The singer-songwriter – a growing name in the industry, having collaborated with the likes of Drake and Stormzy – released her debut LP in June. The 21-year-old R&B artist's album peaked at number three in the charts, and it was lauded by critics who praised her strong vocals and her wide-ranging take on the genre. Smith, from Walsall in the West Midlands, won the Brit Critics' Choice Award earlier this year.
Florence + the Machine – 'High As Hope'
Florence Welch's musical outfit will be hoping to score their first win after two nominations in the past – for debut album Lungs in 2009, and How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful in 2015. The indie rock band's latest album, High As Hope, was another record with generally favourable reviews, although it was the first of the group's four releases to not top the charts, thanks to heavy competition from Canadian rapper Drake, whose album was released the same week in late June.
Everything Everything – 'A Fever Dream'
Manchester-based indie rockers Everything Everything, who formed in 2007, have scored their second shortlist spot with their latest album, released in August last year. Their debut studio album, Man Alive, was up for the accolade in 2011. A Fever Dream was a success for the band – who have also previously been nominated for five Ivor Novello Awards – reaching number five in the charts.
King Krule – 'The Ooz'
Multi-talented King Krule, real name Archy Marshall, is a rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer whose music crosses the boundaries of trip hop, R&B, hip hop, punk rock and jazz. The 23-year-old from London's third album, The Ooz, his second under his King Krule stage name, peaked at number 23 on the charts following its release in October, and was named as Vice magazine's third best album of 2017. This is his first Mercury nomination.
Everything Is Recorded – 'Everything Is Recorded'
Record producer Richard Russell's debut under the Everything Is Recorded moniker was released earlier this year, and included collaborations with the likes of last year's Mercury winner Sampha, Peter Gabriel and Giggs. Russell is best known as the boss of record label XL Recordings, which has worked with music heavyweights including Adele, Radiohead, Dizzee Rascal and The xx, among many others. The record reached number 66 in the charts earlier this year.
Wolf Alice – 'Visions Of A Life'
Alternative rock band Wolf Alice's second album is also their second to receive a Mercury nod. Their debut My Love Is Cool was shortlisted in 2015. The acclaimed north London band, fronted by singer-songwriter and guitarist Ellie Rowsell, saw their latest album hit number two in the albums chart, and number one on the independent chart. Visions Of A Life was listed as NME's second best album of 2017.
Nadine Shah – 'Holiday Destination'
Geordie singer-songwriter and musician Nadine Shah's third album, her most acclaimed yet, has scored her first Mercury nomination. The 32-year-old post-punk artist sings about gentrification, the refugee crisis and the failure of politicians in the north of England on Holiday Destination, which reached number 71 on the charts last year.
Sons Of Kemet – 'Your Queen Is A Reptile'
The British jazz group, fronted by British-Barbadian saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, have received their first nomination for their third album, which rejects Britain's monarch and offers inspirational black women from history as alternatives. Hutchings' other group, The Comet Is Coming, were nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2016 for Channel The Spirits.
Novelist – 'Novelist Guy'
The 21-year-old grime MC and producer, real name Kojo Kankam, unveiled his debut album Novelist Guy earlier this year, after having already made an impact on the industry – he was nominated for the best new grime act Mobo award in 2014. Despite the Lewisham-based star's record not hitting the official albums chart, the record was widely commended by critics and fans, and has been described as "one of grime's brightest young hopes" by the Guardian. – PA, Guardian
