Poor old Paul Weller, looks like that sudden surge of bets that seemed to centre chiefly around the Midlands wasn’t a sign of his impending victory after all.

So The xx cinched it and the music world seems to have breathed a sigh of relief. It’s an interesting win, one that seems to have catered to both sides. As we discussed (at considerable length) on our most recent episode, The xx were pretty much the clear winners for both those who have decried the Mercury Prize panel for losing touch over the years and those who have embraced winners with each passing year. That sigh of relief was perhaps more pronounced on the part of the panel, relieved as they must have been to not play host to a riot in the hall when the winner was announced.

I’m hoping that in a subtle way that The xx emerging triumphant last night is a soft reset of the troubled award ceremony. Now while I wasn’t too enamoured with the album I can still see it for what it is: An album that the award needed more than the album needed the award. If you see what I mean.

Anyway. I guess we”ll have to see what effect it’ll have on The xx. I’ll leave you with a Spotify link to my personal favourite of the Mercury shortlist, the rather charming Wild Beasts and their excellent record ‘Two Dancers’.