These ten artists are up for The Choice Music Prize best Irish album of the year

Ed Power rates the 10 contenders vying to win the Choice Music Prize for best Irish album of the year

Girl Band 

Holding Hands with Jamie

(Rough Trade)

A clattering, shock-and-awe filled debut from Dublin experimentalists perhaps more widely appreciated abroad than at home. Conventional song-structures are dispensed with as Girl Band blend Sonic Youth, Devo, and Pavement. The album is elevated above art-rock cliche by Dara Kiely’s frankness about his struggles with mental illness.

Prospects: Beloved by tastemakers and undeniably original, Girl Band would be fitting Choice winners. They might just clinch the gong too.

Ham Sandwich

Stories From The Surface

(Route 109A Records)

Ham Sandwich’s first album in five years was worth the wait, as the Meath band’s mix of classic songwriting and DIY scrappiness came together, to frequently joyous effect. There was plenty of quirkiness at the edges, vindicating the five-piece’s decisions to stay independent when most peers would stomp barefoot over burning coals to sign a record deal.

Prospects: Stories From The Surface is solid, occasionally dazzling — but is it the sort of “statement” album the judges are likely to favour? We suspect not.

Gavin James

Bitter Pill

(Warner Music Ireland)

Arguably one of the least inspiring inclusions on the list, Gavin James is a sweaty, earnest Irish singer-songwriter straight from the casting agency. Through no fault of his own, there’s a case that his prominence is the result of the traditional record company scramble to mint their own version of whatever happens to be doing well at the moment.

In this case, the blueprint is the hallowed Hozier, official patron saint of the Irish music industry.

Prospects: Hozier, peace be upon him, didn’t win the Choice. There is little reason to suspect the huffing James will either.

Jape

This Chemical Sea

(Faction)

Richie Egan is a two-time Choice winner already so it’s difficult to imagine the Swedish-based Dubliner claiming the award again. But This Chemical Sea would be a worthy pick, as it represents the most seamless fusion yet of Egan’s talents as a pop writer and krautrock-derived experimentalist. This is a giddy, often cheerfully obtuse affair — yet packed with enough hooks to ensure you listen all the way through and then want to slap it on again.

Prospects: With two Choice wins in his pocket, would the judges really make it three in a row?

Le Galaxie

Le Club

(Universal)

One of the country’s most mesmerising live prospects, there’s a school of thought that Le Galaxie have never really captured the magic of their flesh and blood incarnation on vinyl. That remains the case though the Dubliners give it their all on their major label debut. Twinkling beats and vintage synths chirrup and chime — but the songs aren’t quite outstanding enough to dispel the perception that you’re listening to a soulless mash-up of Daft Punk and Kraftwerk. Solid when it ought to have been fantastic.

Prospects: Le Galaxie are well- liked in Dublin music circles. Is that enough to secure a win? Probably not — but you suspect they’ll be in contention to the death.

Colm Mac Con Iomaire

And Now The Weather

(Plateau)

A gorgeous instrumental record from the Frames’ long-serving violinist. By turns pastoral and baroque, laid-back and lustrous, it’s an endearing listen, albeit one that leaves little long-term impression. In other words, a side-project par excellence.

Prospects: Probably too slight to claim the prize. There’s a theory that the Choice winner should reflect the overall condition of Irish music. And Now The Weather is nothing more or less than the sum of its parts and is thus disqualified.

Roisin Murphy

Hairless Toys

(Pias)

Like an underground Lady Gaga, the Wicklow-born, UK-resident singer blends high-fashion, low art, and hook-slathered pop. She was also shortlisted for Britain’s Mercury Music Prize — the award the Choice wants to be when it grows up. Returning from a near eight-year recording hiatus, this was arguably her strongest record yet (including her trip-hop output with Moloko). In Irish music, true innovators rarely get anywhere. How thrilling that Murphy continues to push against the trend.

Prospects: A decent outside shot. She’s been nominated previously and the imprimatur of the Mercury may weigh on the judging panel.

Soak

Before We Forgot How To Dream

(Rough Trade)

Belying her youth, 18-year-old Derry native Bridie Monds-Watson has released a beautiful and haunting debut. Before We Forgot… is a shop window for her bruised vocals and devastatingly frank lyrics. The record dips its toes in the avant-garde while always landing its blows.

Prospects: Also Mercury nominated, this is a peerless debut and Monds-Watson has every chance of winning.

Villagers

Darling Arithmetic

(Domino)

A slight return from songwriter Conor O’Brien, Darling Arithmetic sees the Dun Laoghaire artist apply a glossy full-band makeover to songs previously released in stripped-down form.

Maybe over-familiarity has diminished their impact. Whatever the reason, this was the first Villagers record not to bask in uniformly swoonsome reviews. O’Brien is a unique voice and a generous soul — but here all Villagers’ edges had been removed.

Prospects: O’Brien would be a safe, if unimaginative bet. The judges will likely be drawn to an edgier alternative.

Young Wonder

Birth

(Feel Good Lost)

Bustling electro-pop from Cork boy-girl duo. Influenced by Grimes, Purity Ring et al, their sound is undeniably voguish — and the songs are delivered with genuine verve.

Originality is in meagre supply — but since when has that been a deal breaker? Perhaps the only shortlisted act to display any awareness of international trends in music.

Prospects: Giving the prize to a non-Dublin electro-pop duo would be a surprise.

The Choice Music Prize ceremony takes place at Vicar Street, Dublin, tonight.