Women sweep the Mercury list

There are no less than five female solo artists on the Mercury music prize shortlist – a record. Does this mark a sea change in pop?When Florence Welch – better known as Florence and the Machine – plays live, she spins around the stage in nothing but a fringed leotard, bellowing bombastic pop, accompanied by the frantic melodies of a harpist. Now Lungs, her soulfully eccentric debut album, has been shortlisted for the Mercury music prize. Welch is the bookies' favourite to w...

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