Tracks is a bit different this week. With the return of one of the most seminal bands of the last twenty years, and the fact that said band has returned old school style with an EP, we're going to review each of the four tracks from Massive Attack's Splitting the Atom EP. However, we'll start with the debut single from Josh Homme's new supergroup Them Crooked Vultures. 'New Fang' is a highly experimental piece of elctronica. Oh no, my mistake, it's sleazy riff heavy rock 'n' roll, which sounds like what you'd expect a collaboration between members of Queens of the Stone Age, Led Zeppelin and Nirvana (I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognise Missouri...or view Dave Grohl as a Foo Fighter), without being as good as any of them. In other words, they sound like every other supergroup. It's alright, but I can't see many minds being blown..

Massive Attack aren't the only legends making a return this week. The single greatest MC to ever pick up a mic, Rakim, is back with 'Holy Are You'. While it could be seen as damning with faint praise to describe it as the best thing he's done in years, given the paucity of material worthy of his name since the early 1990s, this is a genuinely welcome comeback. Rakim himself sounds more energised than in a long time, and the beat, though standard soul sample (previously used by the one and only J Dilla) meets rolling riff fare, is edgy enough to make me think that the forthcoming album may well prove to be a surprise gem.

Another hip hop comeback appears with M.O.P's 'Brownsvillian'. It's typically rugged, thuggy fare, basically. Not one to play to your mum, unless your mum happens to be a massive fan of Mash Out Posse, but it's entertaining as always..oh, and the guitar line sounds like they've sampled the theme song to The Wonder Years. There's really not enough rap tunes that do that, I'm sure you'll agree.

Right, on to the main event, which sadly proves more of a non-event. Now that's quality writing. It's not that Splitting the Atom is bad per se, it's just that Massive Attack appear to be leading where once they followed. The title track, in a move I'm sure no one saw coming, feature Horace Andy on vocals. It's distinctly low key, built around a solitary, repetitive analogue riff, and it features a bullfighting video which proves pretty difficult to stomach..

'Pray for Rain', meanwhile, features Tunde Adebimpe from TV on the Radio on vocals. It's a mildly disconcerting listen, featuring an eerie guitar riff that could easily have come from Portishead's Third. In a move that makes me think I've entered some kind of opposite land where Damon Albarn is a trailblazer and Massive Attack follow his every move like a doe eyed twat, it is also reminiscent of Blur's 'Out of Time'.

'Psyche', which sees Martina Topley-Bird on vocals, is a pretty but ultimately throwaway four minutes. It's decidedly the most melodic, accessible thing on the EP, and contains some lovely ethereal sounds. It's atmospheric stuff, but doesn’t really go anywhere..

Finally is 'Bulletproof Love'. Guy Garvey gives an extremely Thom Yorke performance on what is a very idiosyncratic Warp by numbers affair. The EP isn't terrible - indeed most bands would be delighted with it - but personally I can only hope that the forthcoming album will prove this to be merely a false start. Recent live shows have suggested that this may well be the case, so fingers crossed.

To end this week, we'll follow the bleak and surprisingly average, with the most surprising pop gem of the year so far. I haven't liked a Strokes record since 2001, and listen to their one good record very rarely. I hate the current 80s revival. So therefore, how could I not love a track from The Strokes' lead singer featuring hyper-cheesy synth riffs, verses which reference The Police (did I mention how much I fucking hate The Police?) and a string of other crimes? Love it I do, and I may have to get 'Left & Right In The Dark''s chorus surgically removed from my brain at some point if it refuses to bugger off. Anyway, adios..