Mercury Prize playlists
With the Barclaycard Mercury Prize announcement imminent, we caught up with some of the nominees about the records and songs that have inspired them.
See what Richard Hawley, Field Music, Sam Lee and Roller Trio picked below. And you can preview and download all the Mercury Prize albums of the year here
Field Music
Rant (2012) by The Futureheads
“The Futureheads made an astounding album of a cappella songs this year and with it have proved that they can do anything they want. Their version of Richard Thompson’s ‘Beeswing’ somehow improves upon the original by giving it a new swing and dynamic range.”
Into The Diamond Sun (2012) by Stealing Sheep
“Stealing Sheep played with us earlier in the year and were amazing every night. We ended up singing these songs in the van on the way to the Travelodge every night!”
Justified (2008) by Justin Timberlake
“David bought me this for a quid at some CD chain. That roughly equates to 1p for every amazing hook on this record. The Neptunes, Timbaland and the ridiculously entertaining voice of JT still sound pretty fresh to me; the artwork and lyrics, less so.”
Roller Trio
All Rise (2006) by Inara George
“I first heard this on one of our long drives back up to Leeds from London and it totally blew me away. Enchanting vocals and lyrics that are at once charmingly romantic and delightfully acerbic.”
Little Dragon (2007) by Little Dragon
“This is always on in the car when we’re travelling. Some great tunes and one of my favourite singers.”
Richard Hawley
Sam Lee
Valkyrien Allstars (2007) by Valkyrien Allstars
“Hardanger fiddles, exceptional melodies and grooves, and stunning musicianship from “les enfants terrible” of Norwegian folk, who have majorly broken the mainstream.”
What Color Is Love (1999) by Terry Callier
“An extraordinary album of soul singing and some of the most luscious string parts ever, with some very conceptual attitudes to song-making.”
Live (2012) by Donny Hathaway
“A total hero and gone too soon genius, this album is one of my favourite live records and captures a moment of social pride and interaction, with the audience singing along to some amazingly funky grooves. He is a much under-appreciated genius and this is some of the best of his work, with some of the best musicians at that time all locked in total harmony and sync.”
Hejira (2009) by Joni Mitchell
“Simply one of the most stunning, life-affirming, personal and articulate albums ever. The Song ‘Old Beale Street Is Coming Down’ captures everything I work for and experience in the demise and decay of the British oral tradition. This is one of contemporary music’s greatest works of art ever.”
Dangerous (2004) by Michael Jackson
“My first great obsession was with this record. I love the layers of complexity in it and how it invents rhythms and constantly provides new ideas of funk, despite a strong dependence on synth strings and sounds. It still stands the test of time so well.”
