London R&B-tinged trio The XX have risen above the other nominees to be awarded the Mercury Music Prize for the best British or Irish album of the year.
Head of judges Simon Frith said it was “a record of its time”.
“It’s a very urban record. It’s part of that urban soundscape when no-one has any idea what’s going to happen next.”
On receiving the award, which comes with £20,000 prizemoney, frontman Oliver Sim said: “I don’t know what we were expecting, but we weren’t expecting this.”
Formed at Elliot School in south west London (the same school as was attended by Pierce Brosnan) the three piece had been favourites to win until a last minute surge of bets for Paul Weller’s latest album saw the veteran modfather look most likely to walk away with the trophy and the money.
Singer/songwriter Conor O’Brien’s Villagers were the sole Irish act on the list, with the Dun Laoghaire man performing live at the swanky award ceremony. Other shortlisted acts included Mumford and Sons, I Am Kloot and Biffy Clyro.
Previous winners include Dizzee Rascal (also nominated this year), Hot Chip (who coincidentally also went to Elliot School) and Arctic Monkeys.
Last year’s winner, Speech Debelle, has since left her record company after sales of he Mercury Prize-winning album Speech Therapy only selling 10,000 copies to date.
