U.K. MIDWEEKS: THE LATHUMS LEAD

British indie band The Lathums look ready to hit #1 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart with their debut set, How Beautiful Life Can Be (Island). Over on singles, Coldplay and BTS are challenging Ed Sheeran for the top spot.

At the week's halfway point, The Lathums are 3.7k ahead of their closest rival, Public Service Broadcasting with Bright Magic (PIAS) at #2.

Natalie Imbruglia is eyeing her first Top 10 in 14 years as Firebird (BMG) is currently #4, while Angels & Airwaves’ Lifeforms (Rise Records) starts at #7.

Just outside the Top 10 are Sleep Token’s This Place Will Become Your Tomb (Universal) at #11 and The Clash’s 1977 self-titled debut (Sony) at #12. The third album from London artist Nao, And Then Life Was Beautiful (Sony), is on track for a Top 20 debut at #16.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, the new Coldplay and BTS single, “My Universe” (Parlophone), is just 1k behind the current chart leader, Sheeran's “Shivers” (Asylum).

“Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)” (Chocolate City Music) by Nigerian artist CKay looks like it will hold in the Top 10 (it's currently at #9), while Sheeran’s “Visiting Hours” is up five places to #16.

Becky Hill and Topic’s “My Heart Goes (La Di Da)” (Polydor) is on track to climb for a fifth consecutive week, up three places to #17.