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Gomez scoops Mercury Prize

Gomez: Winners of the 1998 Mercury Music Prize

The band, whose album Bring It On was rated above the likes of Pulp's This is Hardcore and The Verve's Urban Hymns, carried off the £25,000 prize.

The five-piece was astonished when its debut release joined the 12-strong shortlist for the year's best album.

The panel of judges described the album as "an intriguing blend of swamp blues, bar-room rock and eerie power".

Judges also said that they had wrestled with three albums before they came up with the winners.

The other two were Asian Dub Foundation's Rafi's Revenge, and Cornershop's When I was Born For the 7th Time.

Gomez, who hail from Southport in Lancashire and Matlock Spa in Derbyshire, started their guitar-based band at Sheffield Hallam University only last year.

Half of the band's album was recorded on low tech four-track home recording equipment, but its authentic-sounding blues has won wide acclaim.

Collecting the award, the band said: "This album was recorded in our dad's garage. It is ridiculous that we are here."

Gomez had earlier performed at the awards bash, along with Pulp, folk fiddle player Eliza Carthy, Asian Dub Foundation, drum-and-bass combo 4 Hero and saxophonist John Surman.

Shortlisted albums were:

• This Is Hardcore, Pulp

• When I Was Born For The 7th Time, Cornershop

• Proverbs And Songs, John Surman

• Rafi's Revenge, Asian Dub Foundation

• Bring It On, Gomez

• Decksandrumsandrockandroll, Propellerheads

• Life Thru A Lens, Robbie Williams

• International Velvet, Catatonia

• Urban Hymns, The Verve

• Two Pages, 4 Hero

• Red Rice, Eliza Carthy

• Mezzanine, Massive Attack