Florence + the Machine’s brand-new album – ‘High As Hope’ –has been nominated for the 2018 Hyundai Mercury Prize. The shortlist was chosen by an independent judging panel and was revealed at a Launch event, hosted by BBC Music’s Huw Stephens this morning. The 2018 Awards Show will take place on Thursday 20 September at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith.
‘High As Hope’ is Florence + the Machine’s third album to be nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize. Released on the 29th June this year on Virgin EMI, the album received praise of the highest order from fans and critics across the globe. Featuring the anthemic single ‘Hunger’, ‘Sky Full Of Song’, and ‘Big God’, ‘High As Hope’ is a career-defining moment for Florence. Florence started writing the record (which is also the first she has officially co-produced) in solitude in South London, routinely cycling to her studio in Peckham every day to, as she puts it, “bang on the wall with sticks”. She took the songs to Los Angeles with her friend and co-producer Emile Haynie, opening them up along the way for collaboration with the likes of Kamasi Washington, Sampha, Tobias Jesso Jr, Kelsey Lu and Jamie xx. Florence mixed the record in New York, where the daily, reassuring view of that iconic skyline – often in stark contrast to the chaos of the wider world – gave the album its upbeat title.
The 2018 Albums of the Year shortlist
Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
Everything Everything – A Fever Dream
Everything is Recorded -Everything is Recorded
Florence + The Machine- High as Hope
Jorja Smith – Lost & Found
King Krule – The Ooz
Lily Allen – No Shame
Nadine Shah – Holiday Destination
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Who Built the Moon?
Novelist – Novelist Guy
Sons of Kemet -Your Queen is a Reptile
Wolf Alice – Visions of a Life