The short list for the 2007 Australian Music Prize (AMP) has rounded-up from nine to ten releases.
The 22-strong judging panel said today there were too many quality Australian albums released last year to limit nominations to nine.
The 2006 short list was expanded from eight to nine for the same reason.”Will we end up with 15 short-listed artists for the AMP 2012? I think not,” said AMP founder and prize director Scott Murphy.
“The increase from 8 to 9 and now 10 is simply a reflection of the quantity of high quality releases in 2007. The judges were asked for eight short listed titles but this year they told me that would have meant cutting out two artists — from a huge leg-up for their career. That’s not what we’re about”.
Set up as the Australian equivalent of the U.K.’s Mercury Prize, the AMP offers a cash prize of A$25,000 ($22,644), donated by the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia. The winner will be determined March 13.
Nominees include “Somewhere, Anywhere” (Dot Dash) by New Buffalo (aka Sally Seltmann), which was recorded in a shed in the artist’s backyard and features Britain’s Beth Orton on guest vocals.
Perry Keyes’ “Last Ghost Train Home” (Laughing Outlaw) covers a range of subjects, from indigenous poverty to the late Clash singer Joe Strummer to Sydney rugby champion John Sattler breaking his jaw during a game.
Fast-rising electronic band Midnight Juggernauts’ “Dystopia” (Siberia/EMI) is to due to get a release shortly in the U.S., Japan and the U.K., on the back of airplay via the U.K.’s BBC1 and MTV Europe.
“Morning In the Bowl Of Night” (Raoul) is the third album by singer songwriter Lisa Miller, acknowledged for its wordplay as “I like to tell the truth in disguise.”
Blues-goths the Devastations recorded “Yes U” (Beggars Banquet) after moving to Berlin, while “The Signal” (Elefant Traks) is the first solo album by Urthboy, of Sydney political hip hop posse the Herd.
The atmospheric “Places Like This” (Polyvinyl) is the third album by Architecture In Helsinki, who are booked to play the Coachella Festival in California in April.
Electronic punksters The Dardanelles’ “Mirror Mirror” (Mosquito Tweeter) is their second release; Bluejuice’s “Problems” (Remote Control) is a tongue-in-cheek mix of hip hop, ska-tinged pop and pounding disco; while guitar/drums duo the Mess Hall’s “Devils Elbow” (Ivy League) is the follow-up to 2005’s Australian Music Prize short-listed “Notes From A Ceiling”.
All 22 AMP judges will meet as a group to assess the Short List, and determine a winner on March 13.
One of the ten will also receive the A$15,000 ($13,500) cash prize Red Bull Award, which recognizes an album considered to show global promise.
