The Cold Cut

With the mercury prize shortlist released a couple of weeks ago, there has been the usual talk of how the prize always goes to an artsy-fartsy jazz group or a classical artist. Well, those people can rest assured: the only dud this year is an album by Basquiat Strings, which sounds hugely thrilling, wouldn't you agree? Well, given that I (and everyone I know) haven't even heard of Basquiat Strings we can be fairly sure that it wont win... which basically means that the 11 other bands (all of whom are great to some extent) can battle it out for the title. Personally, I wouldn't object to the Arctic Monkeys winning again or the Klaxons taking home a first trophy, but given the premise of the Mercury prize it should go to someone who is producing innovative music. This years main contender in that category is Bat For Lashes, the solo project of an extremely talented Natasha Khan, who wrote her Mercury nominated debut album, Fur And Gold, whilst working at a nursery school. I've been told her live shows are fairly special, just as Bjork's are; most of her songs send shivers down your spine: listen to the songs below- the Wizard, the first single from Fur and Gold, is especially different. I hope I'm not alone in thinking that it would be great for someone who started so small to win a prize as big as the Mercury Award....

Bat For Lashes- What's A Girl To Do?
Bat For Lashes- Trophy
Bat For Lashes- Sarah
Bat For Lashes- The Wizard
Bat For Lashes- Bat's Mouth