James Blake has won the prestigious Mercury Prize for his album ‘Overgrown’.
One of the stars of the UK’s electronica scene, Blake unveiled his second full-length in April and continued a love affair with fans and critics alike, landing glowing reviews and a top 10 spot on the albums chart. He took the spoils at the second time of asking, having also received a nomination for his debut in 2011.
"I feel completely emotional and overwhelmed," he told More4's Nick Grimshaw. "It takes quite a lot to get me like that. I had convinced myself that it would have been a second year of being nominated but not winning. I can't believe I'm sitting here."
He saw off fierce competition from bookies’ favourite Laura Mvula, David Bowie, Arctic Monkeys, Disclosure, Foals, Jake Bugg, Rudimental, Jon Hopkins, Villagers, Savages and Laura Marling to take home the award, which went to Alt-J in 2012.
The Mercury Prize - designed to recognise the best music emanating from the UK and Ireland - was awarded for the first time in 1992, with the inaugural gong going to Primal Scream for their album ‘Screamadelica’.
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