JAMES Vincent McMorrow is one of the surprise omissions from this year’s Mercury Music Prize shortlist, which was announced last night.
The Mercury prize is awarded to the best Irish or British album of the year and industry insiders had widely expected the Dubliner to receive a nomination for his second album, Post Tropical.
Former Blur frontman Damon Albarn is the only well-known name to make the cut on the 12-strong list. He has been given the nod for his debut solo album, Everyday Robots.
Other nominees include electro artist FKA Twigs and poet Kate Tempest, who are among the favourites to take home the £25,000 prize money and the spike in sales.
The Mercury Awards will take place in London on October 29 and the event will be broadcast live on TV.
The full list of nominees is:
Anna Calvi - One Breath
Bombay Bicycle Club - So Long, See You Tomorrow
Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots
East India Youth - Total Strife Forever
FKA twigs - LP1
Jungle – Jungle
Young Fathers – Dead
Kate Tempest - Everybody Down
GoGo Penguin - v2.0
Nick Mulvey - First Mind
Polar Bear - In Each and Every One
Royal Blood - Royal Blood