Paul Weller battling Eminem for his first UK Number 1 album in six years

18 new entries from the likes of Aphex Twin, Pale Waves and Orbital impact the midweek Top 40.

Eminem fought off one music legend in Paul McCartney last Friday, but can Slim Shady do it again this week?

If today’s Official Albums Chart Update figures are to go by, then perhaps not. The Modfather himself Paul Weller has a lead of 3,000 combined chart sales at today’s midweek stage with his latest album True Meanings.

Paul’s fourteenth solo studio record lags behind Eminem’s Kamikaze (2) when it comes to digital downloads and streams, but has a huge lead on physical formats, with Paul’s LP also available on vinyl. Will The Jam frontman collect his first UK chart topper since 2012’s Sonik Kicks? Click here to view Paul Weller’s full solo UK chart history.

Elsewhere in the latest sales flash Top 5, Aphex Twin’s Collapse EP is set to become his first UK Top 5 entry at Number 4, while Pale Waves are coasting to a Top 5 debut album with My Mind Makes Noises at Number 5.

New entries and high climbers

Electronic duo Orbital are on the cusp of their highest charting album in nearly 20 years with their first record in six years Monsters Exist (6), plus Jungle are heading for a second consecutive Top 10 with For Ever at 8. David Guetta is also charging towards his fourth UK Top 10 album - 7 is currently at Number 9.

A third Top 20 album is on the horizon for Carrie Underwood as her sixth studio album Cry Pretty occupies Number 11, folk musician Richard Thompson has his eyes on an 11^th UK Top 40 album with 13 Rivers at 13, while Planet Jarre, a career retrospective from Jean-Michel Jarre is at Number 14. Minnesota rockers Low and punk outfit Good Charlotte are also heading for the Top 20 with Double Negative (19) and Generation Rx (20) respectively.

Atlanta rapper 6lack is at 22 with his sophomore album East Atlanta Love Letter, Sleaford Mods are step behind at 23 with their self-titled EP, Ghetts is aiming for a second Top 30 entry with Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament at 24, while Hawkwind are one placing below at Number 25 with Road To Utopia.

Tony Bennett & Diana Krall’s duets album Love Is Here To Stay parks at Number 28, Scottish rock act Fatherson hope to earn their first Top 40 with Sum Of All Your Parts at Number 29, and Uriah Heep’s 25^th studio album Living The Dream is at 30.

Finally, following what would have been her 35^th birthday last week, Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black vaults 64 slots to Number 33.