U.K. MIDWEEKS: GILMOUR SET FOR THIRD SOLO #1

Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour is heading for his third solo U.K. Official Albums #1 with his fifth LP, Luck and Strange (Sony Music CG). Should it hold onto its position by Friday, it will be Gilmour’s first chart-topper in nine years.

Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet (Island) holds at #2, while Rex Orange County is on track to score a third Top 5 LP with The Alexander Technique (Columbia) new at #5.

The first new material in 25 years from The The, Ensoulment (earMUSIC), starts at #6 today. London group Fat Dog aim to make their chart debut with their first full-length collection, WOOF. (Domino), at #7.

Fred again… could have a second Top 10 album, with ten days (Atlantic) sitting at #8 midweek. A 40th anniversary edition of Ultravox’s ’84 record Lament (Chrysalis) could see it return to the Top 20 at #11.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, the reformed Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine” (Warner Records) starts at #2, although Carpenter’s “Taste” looks set to remain at #1.

“Die With a Smile” (Atlantic/Interscope) by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars is up two to #5, while “Somedays” (Solotoko) by Sonny Fodera, Jazzy and D.O.D climbs six to #9.

“WE PRAY” (Parlophone) by Coldplay, which features Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna and TINI, is up 24 positions to #17.