Photo: The Virgins / Adly Elewa

The Weeknd Tickets

In comparison to past weeks of 2013, it might seem that this one has been relatively quiet when it comes to new music. There's no new Timberlake song, or a previously unreleased record from The Postal Service, or surprise Bowie single dropped all of a sudden on Twitter for us to go loopy about.

But if you think that means that hasn't been plenty of noteworthy new releases in the last week, you're sorely mistaken. The Virgins have given us a taste of what to expect from their second album, a Hudson Mohawk remix of the recent AlunaGeorge / Disclosure collaboration is threatening to out-do the original and Diplo and Usher have teamed up to do some wonderous things with basslines and R&B vocals.

For your weekend listening pleasure Gigwise has compiled ten of the best new tracks to grace our speakers and headphones in the last seven days. Enjoy!

The Virgins - 'Flashbacks, Memories and Dreams'
Ahead of the March release of their sophomore album, Strike Gently, New York band The Virgins bring us 'Flashbacks, Memories and Dreams'. Embracing the retro style that's fashionable at the moment (complete with a pencil mic, a hair cut that renders the eyes a useless organ and strikingly budget use of green screen technology), the track's bassline rumbles along while guitars twitch and beep in a call and response fashion until the chorus breaks. When the chorus does arrive it's both uplifting and catchy, forming the perfect counter-balance for the stylised lyrics and sparse musical background of the verses.

Andrew Wyatt - 'And Septimus...'
This is the first glimpse we've had of Miike Snow frontman Andrew Wyatt's musical sensibilities away from his indiepop band. What's immediately striking is how un-electro 'And Septimus...' is, though considering Wyatt has a 75-piece philharmonic orchestra and a former Interpol member involved on his debut solo album Descender, that was perhaps to be expected. The track takes a relaxed, meandering course, with Wyatt's falsetto lifting the track to lofty heights. Wyatt's voice sits perfectly over the gently chug of strings to create what is a startlingly pleasant listen.

Harry George Johns - 'Tie Your Own Noose'
The tale of Harry George Johns is, in many ways, a tragic one. In the winter of 2011 the former Dinosaur Pile-Up man was faced with mental illness, heartbreak and homelessness. But Johns picked himself up and wrote the incredibly personal collection of songs Post-Breakdown Blues about his experiences. 'Tie Your Own Noose' tells the tale of a preacher whose world disintegrates beneath his feet, mirroring the musician's own experiences. The track is a simple yet forceful piece of country inspired guitar music, but is most effective due to the candidness on the part of its creator.

Hurts - 'Exile'
Last week they gave us 'Sandman', which showcased a more hip-hop driven sound from Hurts. This week they give us the title track from their forthcoming album, 'Exiles'. Full of dirty, fuzzy sounds accompanied by a punchy beat and Theo Hutchcraft's usual haunting vocals, the track is another reason to get excited about the new album, which the singer has promised will be 'wilder' than debut Happiness. True to Hurts form, the track often borders on the sinister, but is immensely likeable.

Valerie June - 'You Can't Be Told'
Rising country songstress Valerie June brings us new single 'You Can't Be Told', at once anthemic and imbued with the gospel spirit that runs through country-blues music. A stripped back, simple song with a collectively sung chorus that packs a real punch. Gigwise recently caught up with Valerie to talk about her music and hear the track first hand. Watch the video here.

Disclosure ft. AlunaGeorge - 'White Noise (Hudson Mohawk remix)'
AlunaGeorge's collaboration with Disclosure, 'White Noise', probably needs no introduction as it is one of the most played tracks around at the moment. Now Scottish production wizard Hudson Mohawk has added his two cents to the track with this quirky, souped-up remix. Seriously beefy synths and drums put a new spin on a track that's already fast becoming a favourite, giving the song a grittier feel and a harsher sound.

The Men - 'I Saw Her Face'
Brooklyn band The Men bring us a second track from their upcoming album New Moon, having already released 'Electric'. The song has a classic rock vibe, with drums smashing and crashing their way through the track while distorted guitars grind along in an almost melancholy fashion. At times the track seems to verge on wistful, despite its unrelenting mix of rocking guitars and drums.

Juicy J ft. The Weeknd - 'One Of Those Nights'
Abel Tesfaye - The Weeknd to most of us - is a man who struggles to do any wrong at the moment, becoming the focal point on any track he guest features on. This team up with crunk heavy weight Juicy J is no exception. While the rapping's good, Tesfaye's dulcet, super-sexy, R&B vocals steal the show. The backing track is perhaps not the most inventive or original around, but the vocals make it into something quite touching and almost heartbreaking.

Usher x Diplo - 'Go Missin''
Last year Usher and Diplo gave us 'Climax', this year they give us 'Go Missin''. whatever your views may or may not be on Diplo's work recently, his talent as a producer is undeniable. The bass and snare sounds on this track have a gravitational force all of their own, sucking the listener in to a mesmeric trance. Usher's vocals are typically silky and on point. It'll be interesting to see where the Usher-Diplo partnership might go, with some already wondering if it might rival the Timberlake-Timbaland match up.

Crystal Fighters - 'Separator'
The eagerly anticpated second album from folktronica heroes Crystal Fighters is on its way and will arrive at the end of May. To celebrate the news the band have posted new track 'Separator' online. The track's euphoric chorus does a good job of avoiding the overly poppy tendencies that some listeners have been critical of in the past. A lively dance track, 'Separator' also makes use of well thought through lyrics and clever breaks and tempo changes. No doubt it's enough to make even the most excited Fighters fans salivate in anticipation just that little bit more.