‘Electrifying’ music prize list revealed
MANIC Street Preachers, Gruff Rhys and Gwenno are among those who have made this year’s Welsh Music Prize shortlist.
The 12-strong album shortlist has been revealed and once again it champions the diverse array of new music being made in Wales.
The winner will be chosen by a panel of industry experts and announced on November 7 at a ceremony in Cardiff’s Coal Exchange.
New for this year, an additional Welsh Music Inspiration will be presented on the night.
This year’s shortlisted albums are:
■ Alex Dingley – ‘Beat the Babble’ (Libertino Records): Alex Dingley travelled from Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire, to California’s West Coast to make this, his third album, with the help of Tim Presley, Cate Le Bon and Samur Khouja.
■ Astroid Boys – ‘Broke’ (Music for Nations): Hailing from Cardiff, this hardcore, punk rock, grime band have been touring hard since forming in 2012. Broke – their debut album – brings together their high-performance energy, attacking vocals and crushing guitars.
■ Boy Azooga – ‘1,2, Kung Fu’ (Heavenly Recordings): Boy Azooga’s debut album, 1,2, Kung Fu, is piloted by Davey Newington, who is joined by friends Daf Davies, Dylan Morgan and Sam Barnes to form the Boy Azooga quartet when playing live.
■ Bryde – ‘Like an Island’ (Seahorse Music): Intimate, bitter sweet symphonies from Pembrokeshire-born, London-based Bryde, aka Sarah Howells.
■ Eugene Capper & Rhodri Brooks – ‘Pontvane’ (Bubblewrap Collective): Pontvane is Eugene Capper & Rhodri Brooks’ first release as a duo.
■ Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita – ‘SOAR’ (Bendigedig): SOAR is the unique marriage of cultures from the critically acclaimed and multi-awardwinning collaborative, Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita.
■ Gwenno – ‘Le Kov’ (Heavenly Recordings): Le Kov is the second studio album from previous WMP winner, Gwenno. The album is written entirely in Cornish in ode to minority languages.
■ Gruff Rhys – ‘Babelsberg’ (Rough Trade): Babelsberg is Gruff Rhys’ fifth solo album. Featuring the 72-piece BBC National Orchestra of Wales, it has been dubbed his best yet.
■ Manic Street Preachers – ‘Resistance Is Futile’ (Columbia): The 13th album by Manic Street Preachers., it reached number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.
■ MELLT – ‘Mae’n Hawdd Pan Ti’n Ifanc’ (Jigcal Records): This year has already seen a win for the Aberystwyth trio, with their debut earning Welsh Language Album of the year at the National Eisteddfod 2018.
■ Seazoo – ‘Trunks’: Self-recorded in bedrooms and a bunker in Wrexham, Trunks is the debut album from this infectious, DIY, psych-pop five piece.
■ Toby Hay – ‘The Longest Day’: The Longest Day builds on the 12-string guitarist’s atmospheric first release and recounts travels to America via Cornwall.
Huw Stephens, who co-founded Welsh Music Prize in 2011 with former promoter, John Rostron, said: “It’s another eclectic and electrifying nominations list. This year’s Welsh Music Prize proves that creativity in music from Wales is at an all-time high.”