Pilgrims' faith restored

Mercury Prize nominee Sweet Billy Pilgrim discuss getting the nod

03 August 2009 - One of the outsiders in this year's Mercury shortlist, Sweet Billy Pilgrim, said getting nominated has restored their faith in the industry.

They were selected for their second album, Twice Born Men, which was recorded in a garden shed with a laptop and microphone.

The record garnered four and five star reviews from major publications including The Sunday Times, Mojo and Uncut.

‘Inspiring stuff’

The Buckinghamshire based trio paid 6 Music News a visit and said getting the nod has filled them with confidence.

"We entered it with almost no hope at all and to be nominated is just the biggest thrill and honour," said guitarist and songwriter Tim Elsenburg. "It restores my faith in what we call, ‘the industry’, that there’s a chance for lesser known bands like us. It’s quite inspiring stuff."

But the band think their music is not as left field as critics have suggested.

"It restores my faith in what we call, 'the industry', that there's a chance for lesser-known bands."
Tim Elsenburg

"No one’s quite sure where we fit in," Tim admitted.

Drummer Alistair Hamer added: "But we don’t consider ourselves that alternative really. We’re being labelled as the bit of, ‘leftfield, folk, art, rock-pop, electronica’.

"It’s got a few unfamiliar instruments on it, but essentially it’s a pop song. It’s no more bizarre than Elbow’s last record [The Seldom Seen Kid] that won last time. It’s certainly not avant-garde jazz."

Their competition

Sweet Billy Pilgrim have been sizing up the other nominees, a list which includes the likes of The Horrors, Friendly Fires, Glasvegas, Kasabian, The Invisible and Florence And The Machine.

Speaking about another of the lesser-known acts, Led Bib, Alistair said: "I think Led Bib are brilliant.

"They reminded me a bit of King Crimson to be honest and I was expecting really far ‘out there’ jazz and it wasn’t. It’s groovy and the choruses really pulse along. It’s exuberant."

Bandmate Tim reckons fellow nominee Bat for Lashes could scoop the prize for her second album, Two Suns.

"It reminds me of the most heartbreaking moments of Stevie Nicks with Fleetwood Mac," he explained, "but obviously with the more advanced sonic thing going on.

"It immediately appealed to me because it’s quite melancholy. That’s a great record."

Georgie Rogers