The 10 best guitar tracks to hear this week

Chain Reaction by Tom Misch ft. Jordan Rakei

Returning to his lockdown sessions for Lockdown 2.0, the jazz-pop guitar virtuoso has enlisted fellow producer extraordinaire Jordan Rakei for his new composition, with brooding octave guitar work and arpeggiated synth. Ambient bliss.

If 6 was 9 by Eddie Van Halen

Released on keyboardist David Garfield’s latest EP, Van Halen is joined by Michael Landeau and was recorded back in ’96. An extended version clocking in at over eight minutes, it shows both Van Halen’s influence and insane skill all at once.

Fault Lines by We Are Scientists

Echoing the pop-rock of Royal Blood in their riffery, Keith Murray and Chris Cain return with a summery, hook-ridden song that’s as guitary as it is pop. Back to their best.

Water In The Well by shame

Returning with their second single of the year before their new album, ‘Drunk Tank Pink’ is released next year, the band offer up a more buoyant track than previous releases, reminiscent of Talking Heads with it’s jangly, jagged guitar.

Estella by KennyHoopla ft. Travis Barker

One of the hottest names on the rock scene for a reason, KennyHoopla’s collab with Travis Barker again proves that he’s driving the genre in a promising direction, all while staring down the lens of early noughties punk nostalgia.

Automatic by Mildlife

From their Heavenly debut of the same name that was released earlier this year, the Aussie proto-jazz band have now released the nine-minute-long accompanying music video.

I’ll Probably Be Asleep by Hachiku

Anika Ostendorf returns with an album that’s full of sweet, dewy dream-pop. The title track, however, is a gritty post-rock influenced track that lets the guitar take the lead, showcasing Ostendorf’s versatility.

Intrasport by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Doubling down on their use of microtonal guitars, Gizzard return with an eccentric new single that sees them turn on their heels and head in the direction of psych-dance. It’s wild, but it works.

Merry Christmas by Willie J Healey

With the pomp and confidence of his sophomore album, ‘Twin Heavy’, Healey’s Christmas single is both uplifting and melancholic, littered with sleigh bells, sweet vocal harmonies and a silver-souding acoustic guitar that carries the track.

All Things Must Pass by George Harrison

Rereleased to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his seminal 1970 album, it’s been remixed and offers Harrisons vocals more prominently, with an airier feel and guitars that seem crisper.