Mercury Music Prize nominees announced

The nominations for the Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize have been announced, with joint favourites Florence and The Machine's 'Lungs' and Kasabian's third LP 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum' jostling with ten other entries to be named the album of the year.

“This has been a rich and creative year for British and Irish music,” said Simon Frith, Chair of Judges for the nomation panel. “There are seven fine debut albums on the list and five outstanding records from more established acts, all marking out new ground. What most impresses is the imaginative verve with which British and Irish musicians continue to explore musical possibilities, push musical boundaries and refuse to be pinned down by genre”.

The awards are to be announced at a ceremony hosted by musician and presenter Jools Holland on 8 September.

The list in full:

Bat for Lashes - Two Suns

Florence & The Machine - Lungs

Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires

Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

La Roux - La Roux

The Horrors - Primary Colours

Glasvegas - Glasvegas

Led Bib- Sensible Shoes

Lisa Hannigan- Sea Sew

Speech Debelle- Speech Therapy

Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Twice Born Men

The Invisible - The Invisible