Who? Friendly Fires – a three-piece dance act from St Albans, UK.

What? Their self-titled debut album, released through XL Recordings on 1 September 2008.

Why? Their album was one of the best of 2008, and after taking a while to catch on everyone is beginning to realise that tracks such as White Diamonds and Skeleton Boy are perfect for the summer.

Why not? They’ve mainly made their name over the past few months thanks to their incredible live performances at festivals – and Mercury winners are chosen based on their on-record achievements.

Odds? 8/1 (William Hill)