The Barclayland Mercury Prize has just been handed out, and it went to the genre-bending trio Young Fathers for their album Dead.
First formed in Edinburgh in 2008, the group comprises Kayus Bankole, Graham Hastings and Alloysious Massaquoi, and together they blend a host of influences from hip-hop to electronic music to African styles.
As one website put it, they "possess that which makes the best British acts truly special: a singular identity born of multinational mixology."
The group beat albums by acts including Damon Albarn, Bombay Bicycle Club, and the odds-on favourite FKA Twigs.
The prestigious prize, which also comes with a cheque for over $30,000, is awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is open to all genres, including pop, rock, folk, urban, dance, jazz, blues, electronica and classical.
Like the Polaris Prize in Canada, the nomination shortlists and winners are decided by an independent panel of musicians, music executives, journalists and other music industry representatives, and a win usually means a significant bump in album sales.
Past winners include James Blake (2013), Alt-J (2012), PJ Harvey (2011 and 2001), Franz Ferdinand (2004), Gomez (1998), Portishead (1995) and Primal Scream (1992).
Want to hear what all the fuss is about? Here is Young Fathers' video for the single "Get Up":
by Jennifer Van Evra via Electronic RSS
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