Well done Benjamin!
Benjamin Clementine has been announced as the winner of the Mercury Prize for 2015.
We have his award winning album ‘At least for now’ and the other nominees albums in our library stock.
Click on the image of the album or the title below, to be redirected to the appropriate catalogue entry. Using the catalogue you can find out more about the artist, write a review and place a reservation.
Benjamin Clementine – ‘At Least For Now’ – Virgin EMI Records, 2015
The Mercury Prize winning debut album from musician/singer/poet Benjamin Clementine. The album features the tracks ‘Nemesis’ and ‘London’.
What the critics say:
“Clementine’s voice is a force to be reckoned with – throaty, powerful, and theatrical to the point of histrionic – and his piano-playing bears all the hallmarks of unorthodoxy you would expect from a successful autodidact.” – The Quietus
“by turns bold, brave, beautiful and at times quite brilliant.” – The Guardian
For fans of:
Nina Simone, Antony Hegarty, Rufus Wainwright
Wolf Alice – ‘My Love Is Cool’ – Dirty Hit, 2015
Debut studio album by the English indie band. Featuring the tracks ‘Turn to Dust’, ‘Giant Peach’ and ‘Soapy Water’.
What the critics say:
“It isn’t just the best debut album in years. It’s the flag waving spearhead for a whole wave of young British bands” – DIY Magazine
“an invigorating debut with a gaunt, gallant identity of its own.” – The Guardian
For fans of:
Catfish & the Bottlemen, Peace, Circa Waves
SOAK – ‘Before We Forgot How to Dream’ – Rough Trade, 2015
Debut album by the Irish singer/songwriter known as Soak. Featuring 14 self-penned songs including ‘Sea Creatures’, ‘Garden’ and ‘Reckless Behaviour’.
What the critics say:
“At its songwriting best, the record feels like a set of observational short stories.” – Clash Magazine
“Less teenage kicks, more teenage contemplation.” – NME
For fans of:
Cat Power, Joni Mitchell, Daughter
Slaves – ‘Are You Satisfied? – Virgin EMI Records, 2015
Debut album by the British punk duo which entered into the UK Albums Chart at #8.
What the critics say:
“Every song here is a call to arms or an affirmative flip of the table.” – NME
“There is nuance in the songwriting that, in discovery, has helped Slaves write a good album, not just a collection of good songs.” – Kerrang!
For fans of:
Pretty Vicious, Royal Blood, Rat Boy
Roisin Murphy – ‘Hairless Toys’ – Play It Again Sam, 2015
Third studio album by the Irish recording artist. Featuring the single ‘Exploitation’.
What the critics say:
“Hairless Toys is pure, evocative elegance, her performance as flamboyant and fragile as the subculture she celebrates.” – The Guardian
“eight years is a long time to wait for a record but Hairless Toys shows Murphy remains expertly consistent in her craft” – Drowned In Sound
For fans of:
Goldfrapp, Moloko, Annie
Ghostpoet – ‘Shedding Skin’ – Play It Again Sam, 2015
Third studio album by Londoner, Obaro Ejimiwe, otherwise known as Ghostpoet. Featuring the single ‘Off Peak Dreams’.
What the critics say:
“Insightful, dark and wryly observed urban tales – a brilliant match of voice, word and music” – Mercury Prize Judging Panel
For fans of:
Tom Vek, Mount Kimbie, James Blake
Florence And The Machine – ‘How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful’ – Island Records, 2015
Third studio album by the English indie rock band. Features the singles ‘What Kind of Man’ and ‘Ship to Wreck’.
What the critics say:
“How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful is a cathartic, devastatingly honest personal diary set to music.” – The Line of Best Fit
“Whatever the lyrical content, musically every move feels like an affirming one. You’re never more than a short skip from something gigantic.” – DIY Magazine
For fans of:
Adele, Lana Del Rey, La Roux
Gaz Coombes – ‘Matador’ – Hot Fruit Records, 2015
Second solo studio album by the former Supergrass frontman. Features the singles ‘Buffalo’ and ’20/20′.
What the critics say:
“An album of peerless songwriting – heartfelt and beautifully realised” – Mercury Prize Judging Panel
For fans of:
Supergrass, Paul Weller, Gruff Rhys
Apex Twin – ‘Syro’ – Warp, 2014
Sixth studio album by the British electronic musician known as Aphex Twin. Features the single ‘minipops 67 (120.2)’ as well as the tracks ‘produk 29 (101)’ and ‘180db_ (130)’.
What the critics say:
“Syro is amazing: bug-eyed, banging rave that sounds quintessentially Aphex while not quite sounding like anything he’s done before.” – NME
“We’re going to be talking about this album for years to come.” – Paste Magazine
For fans of:
Autechre, µ-Ziq, Boards of Canada
C Duncan – ‘Architect’ – Fat Cat Records, 2015
Debut studio album by the Scottish composer and musician C Duncan. Featuring the singles ‘For’, ‘Say’ and ‘Garden’.
What the critics say:
“He seamlessly merges interweaving vocals with the sounds of pastoral English folk and lush, 4ADesque dreampop.” – The Guardian
“Much like an architect, C Duncan is an artist of creative design, and what he’s produced is positively palatial” – The Line of Best Fit
For fans of:
Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, Belle & Sebastian
Jamie XX – ‘In Colour’ – Young Turks, 2015
Debut studio album by the English record producer – Jamie XX. Featuring the singles ‘Girl’, ‘Sleep Sound’, ‘Gosh’, ‘Loud Places’ and ‘I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)’.
What the critics say:
“Each song grows richer the more you explore its open space. Its minimalism breathes buckets of color.” – Consequence of Sound
“What Joni Mitchell’s ‘Woodstock’ was to the hippie era, Jamie xx’s solo debut is to British club culture: a wistful valentine conjuring a more innocent time.” – Rolling Stone
For fans of:
Four Tet, Hudson Mohawke, Caribou
ESKA – ‘ESKA’ – Naim Edge, 2015
Debut studio album by British singer-songwriter ESKA. Featuring the single ‘Shades of Blue’.
What the critics say:
“So distinctive and confessional is ESKA’s voice that she’s created a British pastoral music that defies classification.” – Uncut Magazine
“It’s a musical realisation that is well overdue, sure, but it’s also enchanting and graceful, featuring songcraft that other artists take two or three records to achieve.” – The 405
For fans of:
Laura Mvula, Joni Mitchell, Minnie Riperton
Did you know?
We compile a monthly list of all of our latest music titles on the catalogue. It is called ‘New Music’ and is part of our ‘What’s New’ section.
Check out the latest and best sounds from your Library service and discover something new!
To see the current list of latest music releases, click here.
Thanks for reading,
Duncan Andrews – Library Officer
Brighton & Hove Libraries Blog 