The full list of this week's key New Music Friday releases appears at the bottom of the page, but first, some highlights...
Living in a post-30 world, the only thing braver than releasing an album the same week as Adele is releasing one the week after. So props this week must go to our favourite Irish stool-peddlers Westlife, with their twelfth studio album Wild Dreams - their first since their split from Virgin and signing to Warner's East West records.
It's also, apparently, Christmas time! Following the re-emergence of some certain Christmas classics into the Official Singles Chart this week, Gary Barlow tosses his hat into the proverbial festive ring with The Dream of Christmas. This album features covers of yuletide classics like Wonderful Christmastime, as well as collaborations with the likes of Sheridan Smith, Aled Jones and the Puttini Sisters. Anyone else fancying a mince pie now? Just Us?
Singles-wise this week, Years & Years serve up a taste of thrilling disco-pop with their new single Sweet Talker. A collaboration with Galantis, it's the strongest showing thus far from Olly Alexander's third album Night Call, due out in January next year. There are also new releases from Becky Hill with a cover of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, while Craig David and MNEK released an updated second part to their single Who You Are, while Normani recruits Kaytranada for a sickening remix of her Aaliyah homage track Wild Side, also featuring Cardi B.
