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Diamond Geezers: King Creosote and Jon Hopkins

Jude Rogers, The Guardian, 30 August 2011

POP IS FULL of odd couples, but this year's Mercury prize shortlist contains a particularly compelling one. Jon Hopkins, 31, is baby-faced and fashionably dressed, the image of a young DJ. Behind him is the shorter, scruffier King Creosote, aka Kenny Anderson, 43, the afternoon light catching the silver in his beard. The pair's album, Diamond Mine, marks the first time both have been nominated, although Anderson claims they have no chance of winning – "I'm always the bridesmaid, never the bride," he laughs. Whether it wins or not, this stunning record of acoustic songs given ambient treatments is reaching new audiences.

Total word count of piece: 724

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