The albums in contention for the 2014 Barclaycard Mercury Prize, given to the best British or Irish record of the last 12 months, have been announced.
The acts making the shortlist include Blur's Damon Albarn, poet and rapper Kate Tempest, alt-R&B singer FKA Twigs and electro-funk duo Jungle.
Bombay Bicycle Club, Anna Calvi, Gogo Penguin, Polar Bear and Royal Blood are also in the running.
The £20,000 prize will be handed out on 29 October.
Nick Mulvey, East India Youth and Young Fathers and complete the 12-strong list of contenders.
James Blake was the winner of last year's award.
Other recent winners have included Alt-J, PJ Harvey, The xx and Speech Debelle.
The prize is judged by a panel of 12 critics, DJs, musicians and other industry figures who often use the shortlist to champion left-field choices as well as more obvious contenders.
Bookmaker Ladbrokes has Tempest and FKA Twigs as joint favourites to win the prize, followed by Jungle and chart-topping Brighton rock duo Royal Blood, while William Hill places Albarn as joint favourite with Royal Blood.
Singer-songwriter Anna Calvi is nominated for a second time
Royal Blood's debut album has been number one in the UK and IrelandBombay Bicycle Club are nominated for their fourth album So Long, See You Tomorrow, which also made number one earlier this year.
Albarn is in the frame for his first solo record Everyday Roots, while he has been previously nominated for his work with Blur and Gorillaz, whose nomination was withdrawn after they declared that they did not want to win the prize.
Other acts to have been shortlisted previously include singer-songwriter Anna Calvi and jazz group Polar Bear, who made the final cut in 2005.
They are joined by another jazz act this year, Gogo Penguin.
'Exciting new directions'
Nick Mulvey, who is recognised for his first record as a solo artist, was previously nominated as a percussionist in Portico Quartet.
Writing on Twitter in reaction to his nomination, the musician said: "Whaaaaaaa!!!!!?!!!!! Thank you."
Kate Tempest, earning her debut nomination, is also a prize-winning poet, playwright and spoken word performer.
She has been feted by the judges for her "compelling and moving rap poetry" in which she imparts tales of loss and longing.
The 27-year-old from Brockley in south London won the prestigious Ted Hughes Award for poetry last year.
She was pictured on Twitter celebrating a "joyous moment" with her band following the announcement.
Simon Frith, chair of the judges, said the shortlist confirms "that these are fascinating times for UK music".
"There are seven outstanding debut albums here, and five records by more established artists, all pursuing exciting new directions," he added.
