Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds charge ahead in albums race

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds take an early lead in the Official Albums Chart Update.

Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds are on course for chart glory this weekend with their new album Chasing Yesterday.

The rock band has charged into the lead on today’s Official Chart Update with their second studio album. If they hold on to their lead, they will match the peak of their self-titled debut, which topped the chart in 2011.

Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran’s X holds at Number 2, and last week’s Number 1 Sam Smith is at 3 with In The Lonely Hour.

Rounding off the Top 5 are George Ezra’s Wanted On Voyage (4) and Royal Blood’s self-titled LP (5).

New entries and high climbers

Straight in at Number 6 is a new entry from Kelly Clarkson. The record, which includes the Top 10 single Heartbeat Song, could become her fifth UK Top 10 album this Sunday.

London rocker Steven Wilson is on course for the highest-charting album of his career with Hand. Cannot. Erase, which debuts at Number 7, and The Shires are battling for a place in the Top 10 with their debut album Brave, currently at Number 9.

The feat means the duo – made up of Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle – are on course to become the first British country band to score a UK Top 20 album. Official Charts Company Chief Executive Martin Talbot said: “This is a fantastic feat by this young British country act. No country act has ever made this kind of impact on the Top 20 before – the fact they are challenging for a Top 10 spot is truly remarkable.”

Elsewhere, Five-piece harmony group The Overtones are currently on track for their fourth Top 10 album Sweet Soul Music at 10, and Swedish rock band Europe could score their highest-charting album in the UK for 26 years this weekend with War Of Kings, currently at 29.

Finally, Carole King’s A Beautiful Collection is new at Number 34, and London musician Ghostpoet starts at 36 with his third studio album Shedding Skin.