The 2019 Mercury Music Prize nominations are in, with politically charged albums by Dave, IDLES, slowthai, The 1975 and Anna Calvi recognized in the critics’ shortlist of 12. A winner will be announced during a ceremony in London on 9/19.

While the list is majority independent, Universal has one nod with Polydor/Dirty Hit’s The 1975 and the first part of their latest album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships. The label also has two distributed acts through Island in Dave with his debut, Psychodrama (NBR), and the debut from Method’s. slowthai, Nothing Great About Britain.

Foals represents Warner with the first of their two-part fifth studio album, Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1 (Warner Records). Sony has RCA artist Nao and her second album, Saturn. There’s two nods for indie label Partisan with the celebrated debut from IDLES, Joy as an Act of Resistance, and Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. with Dogrel.

2019 Mercury Music Prize nominees

Dave Psychodrama (NBR)

Anna Calvi Hunter (Domino)

Black Midi Schlagenheim (Rough Trade)

Cate Le Bon Reward (Kemado Records)

Foals Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1 (Warner Records)

Fontaines D.C. Dogrel (Partisan)

IDLES Joy as an Act of Resistance (Partisan)

Little Simz Grey Area (Age 101/AWAL)

NAO Saturn (RCA)

SEED Ensemble Driftglass (Jazz re:freshed)

slowthai Nothing Great About Britain (Method)

The 1975 A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships (Dirty Hit/Polydor)