The 11th annual Australian Music Prize is beginning to take shape, with judges having announced the first 11 albums to be considered on this year's longlist of local releases potentially in the running to pick up the $30,000 grand prize.
Under consideration so far this year for the award — which was won by incendiary MC Remi last year — are Courtney Barnett (Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit), southern punks Grenadiers (Summer), the jazzy electro wares of Oisima (Nicaragua Nights), electronic luminaries Hermitude (Dark Night, Sweet Light), charming troubadour Marlon Williams (Marlon Williams), ascendant westerners Methyl Ethel (Oh Inhuman Spectacle), Melburnian heavyweights High Tension (Bully), 2009 shortlisted outfit Oh Mercy (When We Talk About Love), stalwart rockers Royal Headache (High), NSW singer-songwriter Melanie Horsnell (Quatre Chemins), and buzz-worthy balladeer Peter Bibby (Butcher/Hairstylist/Beautician).
Oh Mercy aren't the only previous AMP contenders to find themselves back on the list, either - Hermitude took the whole thing out back in 2012 with HyperParadise, so the stakes are high already among the early entrants on the way to the big bucks.
The AMP judges continue compiling their lists from here, so expect things to start getting heated soon. This year's panel comprises artists, media and retail identities such as Dave Faulkner (chairperson), Al Grigg, Phil Jamieson, Mikey Cahill, Bryget Chrisfield, Sosefina Fuamoli, Kate Hennessey, Caitlin Nienaber, Sarah Smith, Myf Warhurst, Bernard Zuel, Chris Berkley, Mike Glynn, Shannon Logan, Nate Nott and Christopher Powell.
See the competition's Facebook page for more information.
