The year’s best in British music is set to be recognized as a list of nominations for the 2013 Mercury Prize has been released. Shortlisted nominees include David Bowie, The Arctic Monkeys, and James Blake. More on the prize and the artists after the jump.

Established in 1992, the Mercury Prize is awarded annually to an outstanding British or Irish musician. Past winners include trip-hop pioneers Portishead’s debut album Dummy in 1995 and, more recently, 2011’s superb eponymous album from The xx. This year’s crop of nominees promises tight contention across an extremely diverse field of artists.

Standouts include AM from previous Mercury winners The Arctic Monkeys, David Bowie’s return album The Next Day – Bowie recently collaborated with Arcade Fire to produce the interactive music video for “Reflektor” – and James Blake’s Overgrown. Laura Marling joins the shortlist with her recent album Once I was an Eagle. Previous nominee Jon Hopkins is in, along with Irish folk band Villagers. Check below for a full list of nominees and stay tuned for results.

2013 Mercury Prize Nominated Albums
Arctic Monkeys – ‘AM’
David Bowie – ‘The Next Day’
Disclosure – ‘Settle’
Foals – ‘Holy Fire’
James Blake – ‘Overgrown’
Jake Bugg – ‘Jake Bugg’
Jon Hopkins – ‘Immunity’
Laura Marling – ‘Once I Was An Eagle’
Laura Mvula – ‘Sing To The Moon’
Rudimental – ‘Home’
Savages – ‘Silence Yourself’
Villagers – ‘{Awayland}’