Kasabian up for Mercury prize

Jul 21, 2009, 12:11 GMT

Kasabian, Florence and the Machine and Bat for Lashes are to battle it out for this year's Barclaycard Mercury Prize.

The trio are joined by the likes of La Roux, Friendly Fires and Glasvegas in the list for the prestigious accolade - which recognises the best British and Irish albums of the previous 12 months.

Lisa Hannigan, The Invisible, Led Bib, Sweet Billy Pilgrim and Speech Debelle complete the list of nominees. Seven of the 12 LPs listed are debuts.

Simon Frith, Chair of Judges, said: "This has been a rich and creative year for British and Irish music. 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."

Bat for Lashes is the only nominee to have appeared on the list before.

Florence and the Machine - who won the Critics' Choice Award at the BRITs - is the favourite to take the prize for 'Lungs', closely followed by Kasabian and Bat for Lashes for 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum' and 'Two Suns' respectively.

Rockers Kasabian played an acoustic version of their song 'Underdog' at the nominations ceremony in London, while Irish folk musician Lisa Hannigan also performed.

The winner - who also receives a £20,000 prize - will be announced on September 8 at a star-studded ceremony.

Last year, Elbow took home the accolade with their fourth studio album 'The Seldom Seen Kid'.

Full list of nominations for the 2009 Barclaycard Mercury Prize:

Florence and the Machine - 'Lungs'

Kasabian - 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum'  

Bat for Lashes - 'Two Suns'

Glasvegas - 'Glasvegas'

La Roux - 'La Roux'

Speech Debelle - 'Speech Therapy'

The Horrors - 'Primary Colours'

Lisa Hannigan - 'Sea Sew'    

Friendly Fires - 'Friendly Fires'

Led Bib - 'Sensible Shoes'

The Invisible - 'The Invisible'    

Sweet Billy Pilgrim - 'Twice Born Men'