Boards of Canada, Mogwai, Steve Mason and Young Fathers make Scottish Album of the Year shortlist
The final shortlist for the Scottish Album Of The Year 2013 was unveiled today, following surprisingly convivial discussions amongst the judging panel. With a diverse selection of artists vying for the £20,000 first prize, nine finalists were chosen from a longer list of twenty by a panel of ten industry figures. Last year’s winner RM Hubbert made the list for the second year running, whilst rock veterans Biffy Clyro secured their place thanks to a public vote, which closed on Wednesday 28th May. The band declared their gratitude with a short statement: “We’re absolutely delighted to have made the shortlist. Thank you to everyone who voted for us.”
This year’s shortlist comprises:
- Biffy Clyro – Opposites
- Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest
- Chvrches – The Bones Of What You Believe
- Edwyn Collins – Understated
- Hector Bizerk – Nobody Seen Nothing
- RM Hubbert – Breaks & Bone
- Steve Mason – Monkey Minds In The Devil’s Time
- Mogwai – Les Revenants
- The Pastels – Slow Summits
- Young Fathers – Tape Two
Panel chair John Williamson commented: "This year's longlist had the widest range of music – in terms of genre – in the prize's three year history. It is really striking that while this is a Scottish album prize, all of these are albums that neither hide nor particularly flaunt their Scottishness: their audiences, and potential audiences, are scattered throughout the world.”
The judging panel consisted of Craig Armstrong (musician), Will Fitzpatrick (hi! journalist), Kath Mainland (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), John McLaughlin (musician), Nicola Meighan (journalist), Amanda Millen (goNORTH festival), Jill Rodger (Glasgow International Jazz Festival), Claire Sawers (journalist), Andy Weatherall (DJ and producer) and Kevin Williamson (Neu Reekie).
A ceremony at Glasgow Barrowlands on June 19th will see the announcement of the final winner, with runners-up taking home £1000 each. Each nominee will also collect an Art Commission, to a value totalling £20,000, with work drawn from graduates of Scotland’s four principal art colleges. It is uncertain at this stage how the recent fire at the Glasgow School of Art’s Charles Rennie Mackintosh building will affect the commissioned pieces, since access to the building remains restricted, but a further announcement is expected in the coming days.