Mercury Prize 2013: Laura Mvula favourite despite cold critical reception

Mvula's Sing To The Moon is expected to win ahead of Disclosure's Settle

Laura Mvula is the favourite to take this year's Mercury Prize (Getty Images)

Laura Mvula's Sing To The Moon has emerged as the favourite to take the Barclaycard Mercury Prize tomorrow.

Bookmakers William Hill list the singer-songwriter from Birmingham as 11/10 favourite, ahead of Foals, David Bowie and Laura Marling.

A win for Mvula could prove controversial, as her album did not receive critical raves across the board. The Independent described it as a "disastrously over-egged pudding", saying the singer "nods to both Nina Simone and Brian Wilson, but lacks either's compelling character".

The NME gave the record five out of ten, saying: "She'll likely worm her way into plenty of dining rooms with this album, but not into anyone’s hearts."

Rolling Stone was more positive, praising Mvula for fusing "jazzy melodics, pop balladry, orchestral flourishes and pleading gospel to astonishing effect".

Electronic duo Disclosure are also highly favoured to take the Prize with their album, Settle. They have odds of 5/1 at Paddy Power.

However, despite being chart favourites, Arctic Monkeys are outsiders at 16/1. Jake Bugg, who has also received a knocking in the press, is at 40/1, with Rudimental at 50/1.

The judges can be unpredictable in their choices. London Grammar were early favourites for this year's prize, only to find they weren't on the shortlist.