Beck and Bastille neck-and-neck in race for Number 1 album

Beck is set for his first Number 1 album in the UK, but Bastille are right behind him – only 450 copies separate the two.

The BRITs effect continues to make its presence felt on today’s Official Albums Chart Update – 70% of the Top 10 is made up of BRIT Awards 2014 performers, nominees or winners.

Holding them all off at the pass is US singer-songwriter Beck, currently in the frame for a career best if Morning Phase can hang on to the top spot until Sunday. While he’s enjoyed six Top 40 albums in the UK – including a Top 10 with 2008’s Modern Guilt (9)– he has never managed to score a Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart.

His nearest challengers are pretty close behind. Just 450 copies separate Beck and last week’s Number 1, Bastille’s Bad Blood. Still glowing from their Best British Breakthrough win at Wednesday’s BRIT Awards, can Bastille sneak ahead of Beck before Sunday to retain their current reign?

Also snapping at their heels are double BRIT-winners Arctic Monkeys. At this midweek stage, AM, which was crowned Mastercard Album Of The Year, is in third place and just over 1,000 copies off Number 1.

Ellie Goulding’s Halcyon is a non-mover at Number 4, but not too far behind the Arctics, and Beyoncé’s self-titled album advances two places to return to the Top 5.

New Entries and High Climbers

Lake District rockers Wild Beasts could also be looking at a personal best this Sunday. Their album Present Tense is new at Number 8, their highest peak on the Official Albums Chart. Reverend and The Makers are on their way to a second Top 10 album – fourth album ThirtyTwo stands at Number 9 on today’s Update.

US singer-songwriter and former Polyphonic Spree member St Vincent looks set for her very first Official Albums Chart hit. Her self-titled fourth album is new at Number 12. ScHoolboy Q’s Oxymoron, is on course to give the LA rapper a debut hit this week – it currently stands at Number 15.

Michael Bublé sees album To Be Loved leap 16 places to return to the Top 40 at Number 27.  The silver-tongued crooner appeared on last week’s Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway on ITV.

A reissue of Morrissey’s 1992 album Your Arsenal is new at Number 32, while legendary Buffalo Stance singer Neneh Cherry looks set to return to the Official Albums Chart after an absence of almost 18 years – Blank Project debuts at Number 34. And finally, American country star Eric Church’s The Outsiders rounds off the midweek new entries, at Number 38.

The Official Albums Chart Update Top 40 is as follows. The Official Albums Chart Top 100 will be posted in full on Sunday at 7pm. 

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