Scottish Album of the Year 2016 shortlist unveiled
The shortlist for the 2016 annual Scottish Album of the Year Award was announced at the BBC's Quay Sessions this evening, with fresh faces joining past nominees in the race for this year's prize.
Whittled down from a longlist of 20, the short version was selected by a panel of ten journalists and arts figures as well as a public ballot to decide one of the finalists, which took place from 13-15 June.
With some of Scotland's biggest musical exports such as Hudson Mohawke and Primal Scream counted out, it was transatlantic supergroup FFS – a union between art rock veterans Sparks and Franz Ferdinand – who clinched the public vote.
Newcomers C Duncan and Anna Meredith gained recongition for their respective debuts, while the judges also looked favourably on returning nominees Young Fathers (2014 winners for their Tape Two EP), mainstream conquering synth-pop trio CHVRCHES, veteran folk stalwarts Lau and former Beta Band maverick Steve Mason, who has notched up his third consecutive nomination.
Prolific Glasgow-based producers The Revenge and Auntie Flo represent Scotland's current contribution to the dancefloor, while ex-Delgado and Chemikal underground founder Emma Pollock – currently enjoying a career high with her fourth solo LP – also made the selection.
The full SAY Award 2016 shortlist in alphabetical order:
• Anna Meredith – Varmints [live review]
• Auntie Flo – Theory of Flo [DJ Chart]
• C. Duncan – Architect [review & interview]
• CHVRCHES – Every Open Eye [review]
• Emma Pollock – In Search of Harperfield [review & interview]
• FFS – FFS (Public Vote Winner) [review & interview]
• Lau – The Bell That Never Rang [website]
• Steve Mason – Meet the Humans [review & Mason's own track-by track guide]
• The Revenge – Love That Will Not Die [DJ Chart]
• Young Fathers – White Men Are Black Men Too [review]
The 2016 judging panel is comprised of Jean Cameron (Paisley 2021); Sophie Harris (MOJO, Rolling Stone, Time Out NYC); Tom Johnson (Gold Flake Paint, The Skinny); Sophie Laplane (Scottish Ballet); Fergus Linehan (Edinburgh International Festival); Colm McAuliffe (The Skinny, The Quietus, The Guardian); Neil Murray (NTS/Abbey Theatre, Dublin); Donald Shaw (Celtic Connections); Yasmin Sulaiman (The List); and John Williamson [CHAIR] (Glasgow University).
A ceremony to announce the winner, who will also claim a £20,000 award, will take place at Paisley Town Hall on Wednesday 29 June. This year marks the first occasion that the award has taken place outside of Glasgow as it partners with Renfrewshire Council in support of Paisley’s UK City of Culture 2021 bid.
• Read our recent guide to the original SAY Award 2016 longlist and its nominees here.