Putney three-piece The xx win Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize (From Your Local Guardian)

Putney three-piece The xx win Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize

2:49pm Wednesday 8th September 2010 in

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Putney three-piece The xx outshone musical heavyweights Paul Weller and Dizzee Rascal to win this year’s coveted Mercury Music Prize.

The trio, who met when studying at Elliott School, picked up a cheque for £20,000 after judges named them winners for their debut album “xx”, which was released last August.

At the Barclaycard Mercury Award ceremony yesterday, singer and bass player Oliver Sim, told the audience: “We've had the most incredible year and it has just felt like every day we've just woken up to something incredible we just weren't expecting.

“It has felt just like a haze. Being here is like a moment of clarity in all that's happening.”

He added afterwards: “I don’t know if I was going to cry or pass out - one of the two.

“It’s weird, I can perform in front of thousands of people but I find it so hard just talking.”

The xx are the latest in a line of musical talent to emerge from the Pullman Gardens school - following previous Mercury nominees Hot Chip and Burial.

Lead singer Romy Madley Croft, 21, told the gathered press: “I think we all just felt so content just to be nominated and this is just way more than I ever could have expected or dreamed, it’s brilliant.”

Oliver said the band, which formed in 2005, did not have a masterplan for what to do next, but said: “We do hope to have a second record at some point.”

The xx had been the bookies’ favourites to win the prize ahead of Dizzee Rascal, Paul Weller, Mumford and Sons, Foals and Biffy Clyro.

After winning the Mercury Prize two years ago, Elbow reportedly saw their album sales increase by 700 per cent that year.

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