Mercury Prize 2015: What you need to know about the 12 acts nominated this year

Florence and The Machine, Slaves and Wolf Alice are all in the running for this year's Mercury Prize.

Jamie XX and SOAK have also been nominated for the award celebrating the British and Irish album of the year.

They are the five names you might recognise, but among the 12 in contention, there are a few you might not have heard of.

So we will arm you with some facts to get you up to speed on all of the nominees.

Watch all the nominees in this YouTube video.

But first, a little bit about the prize itself.

The finalists were chosen from more than 220 albums by an independent judging panel which this year includes former nominees Anna Calvi and Nick Mulvey plus broadcasters like Mistajam, journalists and DJs.

The album is submitted to the panel by their record labels and has to have been released between 9 September 2014 and 25 September 2015.

The Mercury Prize is the only award ceremony dedicated solely to albums and artists have to be from the UK or Ireland to be eligible.

The award ceremony takes place on 20 November and is in partnership with BBC Music.

OK, let's get on to the contenders.

SOAK - Before We Forgot How to Dream

We all know 19-year-old Bridie Monds-Watson as SOAK.

She released her first EP Blud, on Chvrches' label Goodbye Records, before signing to Rough Trade Records to release her debut, and now Mercury Prize-nominated album Before We Forgot How to Dream in May 2015.

SOAK has a healthy appreciation of dinosaurs and dragons.

Jamie XX - In Colour

Jamie XX is the only nominee to already be in possession of a Mercury Prize, winning with The XX back in 2010.

After five years in the making, he has released his debut solo record, which features vocals from both bandmates Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sims.

Jamie XX with band mates from The XX.

He released his album In Colour on the same day as fellow nominee Florence and The Machine.

See Jamie XX's picture with Florence Welch.

Florence + The Machine - How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

It's been pretty hard to miss what Florence has been up to this year.

Just in case you've been living under a rock, she broke her foot at Coachella, then filled in for Foo Fighters to headline Glastonbury after Dave Grohl broke his leg and she played a Radio 1 Live Lounge special for Clara Amfo at Maida Vale (no bones were harmed during the session).

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful is her third number one album in the UK but her first Mercury Prize nomination.

C Duncan - Architect

Architect is the debut album by C Duncan, or Christopher Duncan.

He is the son of two classical musicians but has created a more sweeping psych rock sound with lush vocals.

This album was made in his bedroom and to celebrate his nomination, he is painting that bedroom.

He has played Green Man festival and Farm Fest among others this year and will be heading out on the road with Lucy Rose.

ESKA - ESKA

BBC Music announced all the artists on their Twitter feed.

Eska has been declared as being the finest female vocalist in the UK by Laura Mvula.

The news of the nomination made her feel unwell.

She hasn't been nominated before but did appear on 2004 shortlisted album Upwards by Ty, so that counts.

Slaves - Are You Satisfied?

Slaves are one of three nominated acts who were also on the BBC's Sound Of 2015 list.

Best friends Laurie Vincent and Isaac Holman have brought punk to a new generation.

Their live set has featured a fan dressed as a manta ray for their track Feed The Mantaray. They also enjoy some crowd surfing too.

Ghostpoet - Shedding Skin

See a picture of Ghostpoet with his dog Oscar.

Ghostpoet is a rapper from London, who has already been nominated for the Mercury Prize for his debut album, Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam.

Roisin Murphy - Hairless Toys

Roisin Murphy's been asking fans to vote for her.

Hairless Toys is Roisin's third solo record and is her second to make the Official Album Chart's top 20.

She used to be part of electronic duo Moloko and likes to perform with props on her face. Her reaction to the nomination was: "I'm looking forward to the shindig."

Gaz Coombes - Matador

Listen to a Gaz Coombes' album sampler.

Former Supergrass singer and guitarist Gaz Coombes has released two solo albums since the band split up in 2010.

He's not big on social media but it tends to feature sound checks and different modes of transport he takes to get to gigs.

Matador has been described as "thrillingly on the edge of hysteria". Make up your own mind...

Benjamin Clementine - At Least For Now

See Benjamin Clementine's performance on Later... with Jools Holland.

Singer-poet, pianist and composer Benjamin Clementine made a name for himself busking on the Paris Metro before he was signed.

His first performance on British TV last October, a rendition of Cornerstone, on Later... with Jools Holland - which has been named among the most explosive performances in the show's history - helped put his deep classical and jazz-influenced voice on the radar for anyone who missed him on the French underground.

Wolf Alice - My Love Is Cool

Another of the debut albums on the list, My Love Is Cool got to number two in the Official Album Chart.

The north London four-piece's success has been partly helped by them being backed some big name tastemakers including Annie Mac, who opened her new evening show on Radio 1 after replacing Zane Lowe with their track Giant Peach.

See Wolf Alice's tweet thanking Annie Mac for playing their song.

The band's name comes from a short story by Angela Carter, a Gothic retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, about girls growing up.

Aphex Twin -Syro

See a fan picture of a Aphex Twin's blimp.

Syro is the sixth album electronic producer from Aphex Twin, aka Richard D James.

Its release was teased with a blimp showing his logo flying above London.

This is his first studio album since 2001's Drukqs and some say his 1996 release, Richard D. James Album, should have been given the nod for the Mercury Prize.

We'll find out in November if Syro can fill the void.

For more information on the Mercury Prize 2015 head to the BBC Music site.

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