U.K. MIDWEEKS: BASTILLE BOUND
F0R #1

Virgin EMI’s Bastille are on course for #1 in their home country as their second full-length Wild World sits 7.5k combined sales ahead of its nearest rival at midway stage. So on the singles side, where’s Gaga?

Wild World, marketed through Ian Carew's team at Ted Cockle's UMG U.K. imprint, will be the band’s second U.K. Official Albums #1 should it maintain its position through Thursday. Bastille’s debut Bad Blood hit #1 in 2013. Since then, Red Light’s James Sandom has taken over management duties from Black Fox.

At #2 on today’s all-new Top 5 midweek chart is Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' 16th studio album, Skeleton Tree (Kobalt). Meatloaf’s 13th studio album, Braver Than We Are (Caroline), is also new at #3, and, apart from single “Speaking In Tongues,” is currently nowhere to be seen on Spotify.

The Beatles' Live at the Hollywood Bowl (Apple Corps) is on track to become their 32nd U.K. Top 10 album at #4. Rounding off the Top 5 is KT Tunstall's KIN, which also goes through Carew’s marketing team at Virgin EMI, and looks set to become her fourth Top 10 LP.

Over on the Official Singles Chart, Lady Gaga’s “Perfect Illusion” (Polydor) is the only new entry into the Top 5, sitting at #4 at the midway stage. Despite Gaga dropping in for a BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show co-hosting session on Friday, the track hasn't yet been playlisted, and it's also not on Global's Capital list. Will it climb higher before Friday, and beyond? The last Gaga track to enter Blighty's Top 5 was "Applause" in 2013 at #5.

The Chainsmokers f/Halsey's “Closer” (RCA) on course for its third week at #1, currently 12k combined sales ahead of closest rival, “Let Me Love You” (Polydor) by DJ Snake and Justin Bieber.

Major Lazer’s “Cold Water” (Because Music) is still at #3, and Calum Scott’s “Dancing On My Own”(Virgin EMI) also stays put at #5.

High climbers outside the Top 5 include Sia f/Kendrick Lamar with “The Greatest” (RCA) up 43 places to #6, and Ariana Grande f/Nicki Minaj’s “Side To Side” (Island) up 15 places to #9.