Whispering into the void
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7605918.stm
One of the very few contemporary artists whose new music thrills me to the extent that I think, 'Oh, this is how it must have felt to hear "Down in the Park" or "Are 'Friends' Electric?" in 1979, or "Party Fears Two" in 1982, or "Your Love" in 1985.' I wonder if Thomas Pynchon is poised to accept the award on his behalf.
It just might be worth remembering, though, that Breidis Prescott was 10/1 with Ladbrokes to win his fight against Amir Khan, which regardless of 'the benefit of hindsight' was clearly completely mad.
EDIT: Lumpen, oppressively masculine dirge-rock carries the day. Curiously, the page just linked to initially had a picture of Burial alongside the story about Elbow winning the award. A simple mistake, perhaps - or has something rather more sinister taken place this evening?