The Hot Five – My favourite new tracks of the week, usually rounded off with a classic, obscure or alternate track from my music collection.

Track of the week: VOLCANOES – ‘Up In Smoke’

VOLCANOES’ brand of indie folk is both refreshing and authentic, qualities that are summed up in their latest single, ‘Up In Smoke’. With two lead vocal lines whose harmonies naturally compliment each other, the track is a stimulating listen complete with chiming guitars and elegant bowed cello. Fans of Fleet Foxes need to take a listen to this, there’s plenty of vocal harmony and a combination of electric and acoustic guitar parts that work together only too well; all in all, a great track here.

Benjamin Booker – ‘Have You Seen My Son?’

New Orleans’ Benjamin Booker was recently hand picked to support Jack White in a series of shows, and it’s clear to see why. The energetic garage sound of this track is made more interesting by the evident blues influences in Booker’s songwriting. ‘Have You Seen My Son?’ is the second single from Benjamin Booker’s self-titled debut album, which will be released on August 18 via Rough Trade.

The Weeknd – ‘King of the Fall’

After a small break, The Weeknd has announced his musical return with two free download tracks. Recent release ‘Often’ has been followed by ‘King Of The Fall’, a darkly heavy piece of R'n'B with fantastic production and vocal hooks. ‘King of the Fall’ shares it’s name with The Weeknd’s latest US tour, which starts in September and will feature Jhene Aiko and Schoolboy-Q. This might not be the type of song I’d normally go for, but the vocal work of The Weeknd is definitely something to appreciate in amongst the track’s clever arrangement.

Weezer – ‘Back To The Shack’

When I think of Weezer, I think of early noughties tracks like ‘Beverly Hills’, or ‘Island In The Sun’, so it was a pleasant surprise to be impressed by the band’s comeback single ‘Back To The Shack’. Chosen as the lead single from new album Everything Will Be Alright In The End, ‘Back To The Shack’ is a classic bit of American rock music that encompasses the traditional crunching guitar and “nerdy swagger” that Weezer are known for. The track was premiered on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show on Monday, and Everything Will Be Alright In The End will be released on September 30.

Hidden track of the week: Queen – ‘Brighton Rock’

It’s been a bit of an eclectic mix this week, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with putting something completely different in this spot either. Having purchased Sheer Heart Attack on vinyl last weekend, an album regarded by many as the best album that Queen released, ‘Brighton Rock’ really was an obvious choice for hidden track. It’s a classic song, and there really is nothing quite like hearing Freddie Mercury sing “It’s so good to know there’s still a little magic in the air”.

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The Hot Five – My favourite new tracks of the week, usually rounded off with a classic, obscure or alternate track from my music collection.

Anna Calvi – ‘Papi Pacify’

Gaining admirers all the time, Mercury Music Prize judge and nominee Anna Calvi has followed up her 2012 album One Breath with a new EP of covers entitled Strange Weather. This track, the album’s opener, is a spacious version of the FKA Twigs original, which builds throughout in typical Anna Calvi fashion. ‘Papi Pacify’ may not necessarily have some of the intensity heard in her two existing studio albums, but nonetheless Anna Calvi develops and arranges this entire EP of covers very well, impressively showing off her original and distinctive style.

Note: If you can play this song loudly, I’d recommend it.

The Family Rain – ‘We Are In Love’

Following the release of debut album Under The Volcano in January, The Family Rain are set to release of a new EP, Hunger Sauce, at the end of this month on Kobalt Music Group label service AWAL. ‘We Are In Love’ maintains that typical blues-y edge to the Walter brothers’ music; there’s some great, distorted guitar work in this tight arrangement, and Will Walter’s lead vocal always adds plenty of character to The Family Rain’s music. Check out the video below, which oddly features Will and a sex doll named Carla.

Morrissey – ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’

Morrissey’s lyrical outlook on life was always bleak, and it seems that in becoming a grumpy old man his controversial and somewhat saddening style has only been encouraged. Exclaiming the lines “World peace is none of your business / So would you kindly keep your nose out / The rich must profit and get richer / And the poor must stay poor”, it’s clear that Morrissey has a bee in his bonnet, but he executes his point in style. The track is well written, well produced, and the album of the same name is receiving consistently good reviews. World Peace Is None Of Your Business is out now.

Lowlakes – ‘Now, She Said’

Australian post-rock outfit Lowlakes are currently spending time writing for their new album in the Austrian Alps, as well as playing a handful of European tour dates this summer. ‘Now, She Said’ is a highly atmospheric piece, heavy on the reverb to create a dense background to a lamenting and unique vocal performance that compliments only too well. It’s certainly fitting of the alpine surrounds that are inspiring the band currently, and the track shows great potential for their debut album Iceberg Nerves, which is released on September 1.

Hidden track of the week: Radiohead – ‘Seperator

Have you heard the news? Radiohead are getting together in September to begin rehearsals for a potential new album after an extended break that has seen the emergence of Thom Yorke’s Atoms For Peace, Jonny Greenwood’s orchestral works and a second solo album from Phil Selway. To celebrate this news, here’s a taste of what I’ve been listening to this week, the final track from 2011’s The King of Limbs.

You can follow Tom on twitter @tom_fake