Bowie comeback named among Mercury Prize shortlist

The 12 shortlisted titles for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Album of the Year were announced on Wednesday (11 September).

Among the long players from the last 12 months nominated for the "music Booker", were debut albums, titles by previous nominees and established artists and one by a legend, David Bowie.

Bowie's excitedly received comeback album - his first in a decade - The Next Day, finds itself nestling among the hip young things of the more critic-friendly end of the musical spectrum.

The Mercury Prize seems to have finally expelled the rather tokenistic nominations it used to give to classical and jazz records and focused on the gently leftfield end of the mainstream.

There were few surprises in the selections, with Laura Mvula, Disclosure and Laura Marling all strongly tipped. Arctic Monkeys, who won with their debut, Whatever You Say I Am, That's What I'm Not in 1996 are back in contention with their well-received latest, AM.

Jake Bugg's much-admired self-titled debut seems to have been around for so long, it may have slipped the minds of many of the soothsayers predicting the shortlist; but on reflection, it feels an obvious choice.

James Blake and Villagers both receive their second nominations for their second albums. Foals and Laura Marling have both been nominated before.

Disclosure and Rudimental have been nominated for commercially successful, dance-influenced debuts. Savages' debut provides a punk-ish indie option and Birmingham Conservatoire graduate, Laura Mvula's first album is an eclectic soul-flavoured opus which has won her many fans.

Jon Hopkins was shortlisted in 2011 for his collaboration of folk songs and field recordings with King Creosote, Diamond Mine. His Immunity album soundtracks the highs and lows of an epic night out to pulsating electronica; drawing on acid house, techno and ambient influences. It's the most thrilling record of the bunch and probably ought to win, but won't.

The winner will be announced at an awards night show with live performances on Wednesday 30 October.

The shortlist in full:

Arctic Monkeys - AM

David Bowie - The Next Day

Disclosure - Settle

Foals - Holy Fire

Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg

James Blake - Overgrown

Jon Hopkins - Immunity

Laura Marling - Once I Was An Eagle

Laura Mvula - Sing To The Moon

Rudimental - Home