You've got to hand it to the Mercurys, for what they lack in consistency they make up in shock factor. Though by the time the night came round Speech Debelle was the bookies third favourite, only a handful of (one suspects now smug) pundits had given the south London rapper half a shot in hell.
Was it the correct choice? In light of a flat shortlist lacking a true standout nomination, it wasn't a disappointing one. The Kasabian, Horrors, La Roux and Florence records were all different enough to justify their inclusion but too weak to righteously claim the award. Friendly Fires, Bat For Lashes and Glasvegas each made a compelling case but none were in desperate need of a leg up into the public's consciousness.
Speech Therapy was a unique album made by an artist who ticked all the right boxes. It certainly wasn't the best LP produced by a British artist in the last twelve months but then again when has the Mercury Prize ever just been about fulfilling such a basic mandate. Next year's chosen few should already prove a more competitive bunch with The Big Pink, Arctic Monkeys, XX and Noah and the Whale having already thrown their hats into the ring at this early stage.
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