Released in the May of this year and met with almost unanimous critical acclaim, the album can now expect a significant boost in sales thanks to the extra exposure garnered by winning the prestigious gong, while the band will also take home a cheque for £20,000.
Alt-J were the bookies favourties before the 2012 shortlist had even been officially unveiled, and have only seen their odds shorten during recent weeks. Richard Hawley, Plan B and Django Django had also been considered as front runners for the prize, while there was a significant level of late support for Field Music and their ‘Plumb‘ record.
Initiated in 1992 when Primal Scream‘s seminal album ‘Screamadelica‘ became the first winner, the Mercury Music Prize is now considered as the most coveted single honour in British music.
Last year, PJ Harvey became the first artist to win the award on two separate occasions when ‘Let England Shake‘ followed up ‘Stories From The City, Stories From Sea‘s own victory ten years earlier.