The Nationwide Mercury Music Prize 2005

I bought Antony and the Johnsons latest album "I Am A Bird Now" at the weekend and have since listened to it seven or eight times and it has completely blown me away. Antonys unique haunting vocals are incredible and the entire album is an immense work of beauty.

It is without a doubt the best album of 2005 and as such deserved to win the Nationwide Mercury Music prize. His performance at the awards gripped the entire audience into silence and proved to be a very popular choice, with a well deserved standing ovation when his name was announced.

And perhaps the best part of the night was seeing the smirk wiped off the lead singer of Kaiser Chiefs, who was positive he just had to turn up to collect the award.

Well done Antony, see you at the Academy on 30 November and sweet dreams.

Al