Hyundai Mercury Prize 2020: A guide to the Albums of the Year
Check out all 12 albums on the shortlist
Last updated 22nd Sep 2020
The highly prestigious Hyundai Mercury Prize is an annual award given out for the best album released by a British or Irish act.
Since its inception, a diverse array of artists have scooped the Hyundai Mercury Prize including Suede, Portishead, Primal Scream, Wolf Alice, Pulp, PJ Harvey, Arctic Monkeys, Klaxons, Sampha, The xx, Roni Size & Reprazent, Gomez, M People and Franz Ferdinand.
Each year, the Hyundai Mercury Prize Albums of the Year shortlist of 12 records is whittled down by an independent judging panel that meticulously listens to the many, many albums submitted by artists and record labels.
For the third consecutive year, Absolute Radio presenter Danielle Perry is once again part of the 12-strong panel in 2020 alongside Anna Calvi, Supergrass’ Gaz Coombes, Jorja Smith and Jamie Cullum, Phil Alexander, Annie Mac, Gemma Cairney, Mike Walsh, Will Hodgkinson, Tshepo Mokoena and chair Jeff Smith.
As usual, the shortlist for the 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize is a typically hyper-eclectic selection of records encompassing jazz, grime, pop, electro, hip-hop, indie, soul and much more.
The judges said of their choices: “In these difficult and uncertain times the Hyundai Mercury Prize is proud to celebrate the remarkable power of music to inspire and exhilarate.
“The albums on the 2020 shortlist showcase a great diversity of sounds, styles, ambitions and experience. What these albums share is an irresistible urgency, a belief that their music matters more than ever.”
Ahead of the winner being announced on Thursday 24th September, Absolute Radio takes a look at the 12 albums on the shortlist...
Hyundai Mercury Prize 2020: A guide to the Albums of the Year
WINNER - Michael Kiwanuka - ‘KIWANUKA’
Muswell Hill's most famous musical export since The Kinks, Michael Kiwanuka has produced the album of his distinguished career so far with the eponymous and glorious 'KIWANUKA'. Co-produced by Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley fame (who also helmed 2016's chart-topping 'Love & Hate') 'KIWANUKA' centres once again on Michael Kiwanuka's honeyed voice and effortlessly flits between soul, blues, rock and funk as he tackles weighty subject matter.
Lanterns on the Lake - ‘Spook the Herd’
After taking a short hiatus in 2016, Newcastle indie rockers Lanterns on the Lake returned to the fore in February of this year with their fourth album 'Spook the Herd' – a record that has been hailed as a "masterpiece" by critics. Sonically atmospheric and lush throughout with Hazel Wilde's voice never sounding better, 'Spook the Herd' sees the band reflect upon many contemporary issues including divisive politics, social media, addiction, grief and the climate crisis.
Laura Marling - ‘Song for Our Daughter’
No stranger to the Hyundai Mercury Prize having been nominated three times previously ('Alas, I Cannot Swim', 'I Speak Because I Can' and 'Once I Was An Eagle' in in 2008, 2010 and 2013 respectively), Laura Marling will be hoping it's fourth time lucky with her sublime 'Song for Our Daughter'. Throughout its 10 tracks and 36 all-too-short minutes, 'Song for Our Daughter' is musically exquisite and packed with gorgeous melodies as Marling bares her soul to an imaginary child. Sublime stuff.
Stormzy - ‘Heavy is the Head’
Undoubtedly one of the UK's biggest rising stars in the past decade who headlined Glastonbury after just one studio album (2017's Gang Signs & Prayers), the mighty Stormzy delivered again in late 2019 with his towering second album 'Heavy is the Head'. Featuring collaborations with Aitch, Burna Boy, Ed Sheeran, Headie One, H.E.R., and Yebba, 'Heavy is the Head' is gritty, infectious and astonishingly broad in scope, yet it always manages to stay true to Stormzy's grime roots.
Sports Team - ‘Deep Down Happy’
Released in June 2020, London based indie rockers Sports Team's debut album 'Down Happy' was a massive commercial success upon release reaching number two on the UK chart, narrowly losing the top spot to Lady Gaga's 'Chromatica'. It's easy to see what the fuss is about as 'Deep Down Happy' is an infectious, uplifting and cathartic album from a band that clearly don't take themselves too seriously. Fantastic.
Porridge Radio - ‘Every Bad’
'Every Bad', the second album from fantastically monikered Brighton quartet Porridge Radio, is beguiling, edgy and brilliant. Released in March, it sees the band abandon the more minimalism of their early material half a decade ago in favour of more colossal, abrasive, dynamic and urgent sounds.
Moses Boyd - ‘Dark Matter’
Hyper-eclectic jazz musician Moses Boyd released his scintillating and exhilarating debut album 'Dark Matter' in February and it's rightfully regarded as one of the standout records of 2020. Melding jazz with electronica, grime, rock, afrobeats and jazz fusion, 'Dark Matter' is glorious melting pot of music and thematically it's about unity and hope in these turbulent global times. An astonishing record.
Kano - ‘Hoodies All Summer’
East Ham rap powerhouse Kano seems to be going from strength to strength with each release, and August 2019's 'Hoodies All Summer' is nothing short of a revelation. Kano sounds imperious throughout his sixth album as he dextrously raps about hard-hitting issues and also the importance of good times in life. Kano's 2016 album 'Made in the Manor' was also shortlisted for the Hyundai Mercury Prize but Kano will be hoping to go the whole way and win it this time.
Georgia - ‘Seeking Thrills’
The daughter of Leftfield legend Neil Barnes, Georgia has electronic music running through her veins and she kicked off 2020 in fine style by releasing her synth-heavy musical opus 'Seeking Thrills'. Building on her self-titled 2015 debut, 'Seeking Thrills' is a slick, highly addictive and flawless album that nods towards to electropop greats including Robyn and The Knife.
Anna Meredith - ‘FIBS’
Turnell Park born, Scotland raised experimental composer Anna Merdith released her truly unique second studio album 'FIBS' to widespread acclaim in October 2019. Breath-taking in musical scope, and often challenging yet always innovative, 'FIBS' fuses frenetic and euphoric electronic sounds with more traditional instruments to startling and mind-boggling effect. Throughout all of its 11 brilliant tracks, 'FIBS' is genre-obliterating musical magic of the highest order.
Charli XCX - ‘how i’m feeling now’
Released in May 2020, 'how i'm feeling now' saw Charli XCX – real name Charlotte Emma Aitchison – embrace the "do-it-yourself" ethos, and it was recorded over just six weeks in direct response to the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe. Recorded in self-isolation and devoid of the blockbuster production of her previous album 'Charli', 'how i'm feeling now' is a low-fi pop gem that's cohesive, experimental and an absolute triumph.
Dua Lipa - ‘Future Nostalgia‘
Already a global megastar thanks to her multi-million selling self-titled debut album 'Dua Lipa' and ubiquitous pop anthem 'New Rules', Dua Lipa upped the ante with her critically lauded second record 'Future Nostalgia'. Embracing disco, electro and funk, 'Future Nostalgia' sees Dua Lipa take musical influence from her favourite music from childhood to startling effect. Pure pop perfection throughout, 'Future Nostalgia' features an array of esteemed producers including Stuart Price, who famously helmed Madonna's 2005 tour-de-force 'Confessions on a Dance Floor.'