American soul veteran Bobby Womack won Q magazine's best album award on Monday for The Bravest Man in the Universe. It was his first album of original material since 1994.
Womack, 68, who was diagnosed with colon cancer earlier this year, was encouraged to return to music by Blur frontman Damon Albarn in 2010.
Blur won the best live act award, while Muse, who composed the official song for the London Olympics, were named best act in the world.
Techno duo Underworld, who created the soundtrack to the Olympics opening ceremony, was also honoured for its part in the Games.
"It's been the most incredible year for British music. Our bands and our anthems transformed the Olympics," said Q editor Andrew Harrison.
