The winner of this year's Nationwide Mercury Prize will be announced on Tuesday 4th September at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Competing for the £20,000 prize (and the opportunity to have all copies of their winning album decorated with a very large "Winner of the Mercury Prize 2007" sticker) is an eclectic mix of artists ranging from last year's winners Arctic Monkeys to "token jazz act" Basquiat Strings.

Find out more about the nominees below, and have your say on our Mercury Prize messageboard.

Bat For Lashes: Fur And Gold
Download / stream  |  Buy CD

Bat For Lashes is 27-year-old Natasha Khan. Her debut album Fur And Gold was produced by Khan and Faultine's David Kosten. A gifted singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and visual artist, Natasha Khan spent part of her childhood in Pakistan.

The Young Knives: Voices Of Animals And Men
Download / stream  |  Buy CD  |  Watch video

The Young Knives are a three-piece band comprising Oliver Askew and brothers Henry Dartnell and House Of Lords. The trio formed in Ashby de la Zouche, Leicestershire and are now based in Oxford. They released Voices Of Animals And Men in 2006.

Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare
Download / stream  |  Buy CD

Favourite Worst Nightmare is the second album from Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys. It follows their million-plus selling debut Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, which won the 2006 Nationwide Mercury Prize. The band's new album was released in April 2007.

Fionn Regan: The End Of History
Download / stream  |  Buy CD

The End Of History is the debut album from Fionn Regan, originally from Wicklow, Ireland and now living in Dublin. A hugely talented singer-songwriter, Fionn released his album on former Cocteau Twin Simon Raymonde's Bella Union label.

Maps: We Can Create
Download / stream  |  Buy CD  |  Watch video

Maps is James Chapman whose debut album, We Can Create, was written and recorded in his Northamptonshire bedroom. It was entirely recorded on analogue equipment and released through Mute Records in May 2007.

Klaxons: Myths Of The Near Future
Download / stream  |  Buy CD

London-based three-piece Klaxons released their debut album Myths of the Near Future on Polydor Records in January 2007. Produced by James Ford, it reached number two in the UK chart on release and features the hit single Golden Skans.