U.K. MIDWEEKS: RICK VS. REN

Rick Astley and newcomer Ren are battling over this week’s U.K. Official Albums #1. A three-way race for the top is unfolding over on Singles.

At today’s halfway point, Astley is leading the albums charge with ninth set, Are We There Yet? (BMG). The debut from Welsh singer/songwriter Ren, Sick Boi (The Other Songs), however, is less than 400 sales behind.

BRITs Rising Star winner Holly Humberstone is at #3 with her debut, Paint My Bedroom Black (Polydor). The Streets are back with their first album of new material in nearly 13 years, The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light (Rhino), starting at #4.

A 50th anniversary re-issue of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon (Rhino), is looking to return to the U.K. Top 10 for the first time since ’93, at #5.

Aces Are High (One Road Records) from English blues duo When Rivers Meet is #6 and Troye Sivan’s Something to Give Each Other (EMI) is #7.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, cassö, RAYE and D-Block Europe’s “Prada” (Ministry of Sound) has risen one place to #1. The track is less than 400 sales ahead of last week’s #1, “Strangers” (FFRR) by Kenya Grace. Tate McRae’s “greedy” (Ministry of Sound) is another contender for the #1 spot at less than 1.3k sales behind Grace at #3.

Three more tracks are on the rise: Tyla’s “Water” (RCA) is up three to #4; “Baddadan” (EMI) by Chase & Status f/Flowdan, IRAH and Trigga & Takura is up six to #5; and “Asking” (Solotoko) by Sonny Fodera, MK and Clementine Douglas is up four to #6.

This week’s highest new entry is looking to be boygenius’ “Black Hole” (Interscope) starting at #8.