Alt-J win Mercury Prize 2012

-

Alt-J were crowned winners of this year’s Mercury Prize at a ceremony in London last night.

The bookies’ favourites before the event, the fourpiece were awarded the accolade for their debut album An Awesome Wave, beating the likes of Jessie Ware and Richard Hawley.

Simon Frith, the chair of Mercury judges, explained the panel’s decision:

“Alt-J’s ‘An Awesome Wave’ combines unexpected shards of sound with mesmerising rhythms, compelling melodies and intriguing songs. A tantalising and delightful album.”

The Mercury Prize was set up in 1992 to celebrate the best album of the year made by a British artist, with Primal Scream – Screamadelica winning the first year’s award.

Last year saw PJ Harvey win her second Mercury Prize for Let England Shake.

The shortlist in full was as follows:

Alt-J
Ben Howard
Django Django
Field Music
Jessie Ware
Lianne La Havas
The Maccabees
Michael Kiwanuka
Plan B
Richard Hawley
Roller Trio,
Sam Lee

Check out Best Fit’s own alternative Mercury list here.