10 new guitar-driven tracks to hear this week

She by The Sword

The doom metalers first release since their 2018 album Used Future, this take on the KISS classic She is laced with brutal riffery and solos reminiscent of early Black Sabbath. The single comes as part of the band’s upcoming compilations celebrating their 15-year career, the CD package Chronology 2006 – 2018 and vinyl release Conquest of Kingdoms, both of which are set to be released on June 5.

Take Back The Radio by Katy J Pearson

Bristol’s Katy J Pearson returns with this belter of a single, with crisp, reverberated guitar set against her enticing vocal. It also features label mate Davey Newington of Boy Azooga on drums and backing vocals and Squid’s Laurie Nankivell on brass. This song is wonderfully nostalgic, and a perfect tonic for these uncertain times.

Shame by Ellis

Taken from the Ontario-native’s debut long player, Shame is dark, ephemeral track with guitar work reminiscent of the early noughties emo scene and Bernard Sumner’s early playing style in Joy Division. Produced by Jake Aron of Snail Mail, Solange and Grizzly Bear fame, it follows Ellis’s debut EP The Fuzz and advances on her confessional and sombre lyrics.

Summertime (Acoustic) by Orville Peck

An unplugged, stripped-back approach to his recently released single, Orville Peck offers this usually grand and orchestral song in a more intimate setting. Featuring a single acoustic guitar and bandmate Duncan Jay Hennings on grand piano, it lays bare Peck’s impressive baritone vocal range and his refreshing approach to country music. The song’s original version was released at the beginning of this month, marking Peck’s first new music since his 2019 debut record, Pony.

Love In Mine by Big Thief

Adrienne Lenker and co. have released a gorgeous outtake from the Two Hands sessions, their 2019 album, with gossamer-thin fingerpicked acoustic and roomy drums. Announcing the song’s release, the band detailed Love In Mine “an outtake that is very dear to us.” The new song follows Big Thief’s recently shared five-track album of demos from the sessions for Two Hands and its predecessor UFOF.

Don’t Stop… by Oasis

A demo rediscovered by Noel Gallagher while sorting through “hundreds of faceless unmarked CDs,” Don’t Stop… is a previously lost Oasis track that until recently had only been heard as part of a soundcheck recording from Hong Kong in the early 2000s. Largely an acoustic track, it’s one of the older Gallagher brother’s better latter-day efforts, seemingly penned for inclusion on either Don’t Believe the Truth or Dig Out Your Soul.

Nate Smith is the Ace of Aces by The Fearless Flyers

Vulfpeck offshoot The Fearless Flyers released the first single from their forthcoming debut album, featuring Mark Lettieri of Snarky Puppy and Cory Wong. Re-worked from the version first heard on their debut 2018 EP, the song is brimming with sonic funk guitar, scuzzy bass lines and even Wong slapping a baritone guitar. The single also features the brass section Delta Force and is available via pre-order on Qrates.

Festival by Tom Misch & Yussuf Dayes

Found on Tom Misch’s sophomore album, written in partnership with renowned drummer Yussuf Dayes, Festival features some impeccable rhythms underpinning balanced and collected arpeggiatted guitar melodies, with short bursts of searing and exploding lead lines in the distance. Released on Misch’s Beyond The Groove label through Blue Note Records, it could easily sit on Radiohead’s Kid A or In Rainbows as well as any release by Bill Frisell.

Take Back The Track by The Magic Gang

The third single from the band’s forthcoming album, Death of the Party, which is also their first release on Warner Records, it’s reminiscent of early Magic Gang with chimey guitars and easily singable hooks. With single-coil grooves and gang vocals aplenty, there’s an obvious Chic influence here, without deviating too far from what the band know best; joyous indie records to soundtrack your summer.

To Be A Woman Pt.2 Fenne Lily

Dead Oceans newest artist Fenne Lily has released her second single for the label, following Hypochondriac. Co-produced with engineer Brian Deck, famed for his work with Counting Crows and Modest Mouse, it’s a raw and furious single, with powerful, ground-shaking guitars and inventive dynamics. Lily is due to head out on tour in support of Waxahatchee in September.