Alt-J Win the Mercury Prize

1 November 2012, 23:17

Alt-J have won the 2013 Barclaycard Mercury Prize for their debut album An Awesome Wave.

"Wow. Umm, what do we do? We literally hadn't prepared for this," they said, taking to the stage at Camden's Roundhouse when the Prize was awarded.

"We'd like to thank everyone in team Alt-J who has ever made a difference to us," the quartet went on. "It's been amazing."

The band went on to thank their parents - "for not making us get jobs" - as well as the other nominees. What gents.

"Alt-J's An Awesome Wave combines unexpected shards of sound with mesmerising rhythms, compelling melodies and intriguing songs. A tantalising and delightful album," said Simon Frith, Chair of Judges.

Alt-J were the early favourites for the award - although Plan B, Field Music and Richard Hawley all enjoyed periods as the bookies favourite.

Hawley missed out on the prestigious award in 2006 for Coles Corner, losing it to the Arctic Monkeys.

Alex Turner collected the prize - for Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - by saying, "someone call 999 - Richard Hawley's been robbed."

The Barclaycard Mercury Prize is annually awarded to the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Last year's winner was PJ Harvey for her album Let England Shake - the only time an artist has bagged the prize twice.

The 2012 nominees were:

Alt-J - An Awesome Wave

Django Django - Django Django

Field Music - Plumb

Richard Hawley - Standing At The Sky's Edge

Ben Howard - Every Kingdom

Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again

Lianne La Havas - Is Your Love Big Enough?

Sam Lee - Ground Of Its Own

The Maccabees - Given To The Wild

Plan B - iLL Manors

Roller Trio - Roller Trio

Jessie Ware - Devotion