Bowie seals his revival by joining new names on Mercury shortlist

Some of the newest kids in pop were joined by the veteran David Bowie on the shortlist announced yesterday for the Panasonic Mercury music prize for the album of the year.

Bowie, who at 55 is receiving warm if mixed reaction to his new album Heathen, will be contending with performers including Electric Soft Parade, a guitar band who are not even out of their teens.

The 12-strong shortlist for the £20,000 prize, which is chosen by music critics and figures from the industry, included four female solo artists and half a dozen debut albums.

After last year's award ceremony on 11 September was overshadowed by the events in America, this year's nominated bands have provided a surprisingly cheery playlist.

Simon Frith, a professor of film and media who has been chairman of the judges since the prize began 11 years ago, said it had been a very upbeat year for British and Irish music.

"This is the most joyful Mercury shortlist for years, suggesting a sea-change at the heart of British music," he said. "British artists are seizing the centre-stage of contemporary urban music with snap and swagger, while the next generation of guitar bands mine the musical archive with a zest and vigour once only the province of DJs."

He added: "David Bowie is the best-known name on the list by far and in some ways the most surprising in a year when there's a big emphasis on new bands and youth." While Bowie is the best-known artist nominated, the bookies immediately rated Doves and 22-year-old Mike Skinner, who is known as The Streets, joint favourites for the honour.

The eclectic list also includes surprises such as Joanna MacGregor, a classical pianist who formed her own label to release an album of music ranging from the conventionally classical to collaborations with artists including Talvin Singh and performers from South Africa and Japan.

MacGregor said she was thrilled. "The thing about the Mercury list is it's not about categories," she said. "The way music is going, you can't operate in categories any more."

Gemma Hayes, a young Irish folk singer who was only recording her debut album this time last year, said she was "overwhelmed" because the prize genuinely recognised musical talent. "It's a little less glossy than the others but as a musician, it means a lot more," she said.

Mr Frith said that although there seemed to be a widespread feeling that it was a terrible time for British music, there was a large number of exciting younger artists to be found.

One of the striking factors was recognition for a brand of black British music that was quite distinctive from black American, he said. In the past, black British music had tended to be judged in comparison with what was coming out of the United States.

Beverley Knight, a soul singer from Wolverhampton who was also nominated, said she believed that black British artists had their own unique sound. "I do think it's always been there but just invisible – now it's visible."

The Mercury prize will be awarded at a ceremony in London on 17 September. Last year's winner was P J Harvey.

Record rundown with Simon Frith, chairman of the Mercury Music Prize judges

David Bowie 'Heathen'

Pop/rock veteran, 55

"Whatever else you say about Bowie and his artistic pretensions and his experiments, remember that he is a brilliant pop singer. His voice still has a seductive quality that makes him extraordinarily listenable and this is more about his voice than his records have been for a while."

Odds (William Hill) 6/1

Roots Manuva 'Run Come Save Me'

Second album from south London's Rodney Hylton Smith. "This is a record that has taken an American form ­ rap ­ but made it very British. The beat is very different from an American record. It is recognisable immediately. Very funny." 8/1

Doves 'The Last Broadcast'

Second album from the Manchester trio of Jez and Andy Williams and Jimi Goodwin. "Classically grand British rock 'n' roll done by people with absolute confidence that they can experiment within that and still carry it forward. It's extraordinarily listenable." 4/1 Joint favourite

Gemma Hayes 'Night on my Side'

Debut from Irish folk singer, 24. "She is a young Irish singer/songwriter working with an American producer, Dave Fridmann, who produced Mercury Rev. What you get is interesting love songs but well sung, well produced and with a particular magic." 10/1

Ms Dynamite 'A Little Deeper'

Debut from Naomi McLean-Daley, 21, of London. "A young black woman using what is essentially rap to talk about what it's like to be young and British. There is an unusual sense of somebody who has a very clear idea of what she wants to do with her music." 6/1

Beverley Knight 'Who I Am'

The third album from the 29-year-old soul and R&B singer from Wolverhampton. "This is the pop record on the list and it's a very classy one. She's writing her own material and trying to bring a kind of interest to the songwriting. They are standard pop songs from a very good singer but the way they're arranged and developed is enthralling." 6/1

The Bees 'Sunshine Hit Me'

Debut album from Paul Butler and Aaron Fletcher, both 23, from the Isle of Wight. "They're more studiously eccentric than other young guitar bands on the list. They are in the tradition of British sunshine holiday records ­ slightly cheesy but utterly charming." 12/1

Guy Barker 'Soundtrack'

Jazz trumpeter and composer who worked on The Talented Mr Ripley film. "Technically, Guy Barker is probably the best trumpeter Britain has ever had and he has chosen the cream of British musicians to work with. This is irresistible." 12/1

The Streets 'Original Pirate Material'

Birmingham-born Mike Skinner, 22, now of London. "The critics' favourite, the industry's favourite and the bookies' favourite; I think this is a very remarkable record from a teenage young man talking about what it's like to be young in the city."4/1 jf

The Coral 'The Coral'

Debut from six teenage friends from Merseyside. "Coming from Merseyside is significant only in that they have some of the remarkable vitality and ambition of Sixties Mersey groups.There's a real sense of not thinking about genres or labels."8/1

Joanna MacGregor 'Play'

The classical pianist worked with musicians such as Talvin Singh on this album. "She is interested in music that, formally and commercially, is not classical but from a performer's point of view is just as technically difficult and compositionally interesting." 12/1

Electric Soft Parade 'Holes in the Wall'

Debut from Brighton brothers, Tom White, 17, and Alex, 19. "Another teenage guitar band but they have a different sensibility to The Coral. They are less a pop band and more of a rock band in their attitude to noise and loudness." 10/1