Sam Coomes and ‎Janet Weiss‎ of Quasi, courtesy.

This week we bring you alt-rock from Quasi (Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney and Sam Coomes) and Slow Fiction, electronica from il:lo, “landlocked surf rock” from Colony House, chillwave from Rob Kovacs, acoustic goodness from Annabelle Freedman and African desert blues from the late Ali Farka Touré!

Quasi, “Nowheresville” – Portland indie legends Quasi are going back to their rock roots with “Nowheresville.” Quasi, consisting of Sam Coomes (Heatmiser) and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney), have signed to Sub Pop and are getting ready to put out their 10th album, Breaking the Balls of History. This single starts with Weiss’ precise yet in-your-face drumming and Coomes’ blaring organ. It features some killer guitar work as well as Coomes’ and Weiss’ signature harmonies. Check out the video they made for “Nowheresville” starring “Sullen the Gorilla” as he goes for a walk in the woods. Catch Quasi at Noise Pop Festival  next month.

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il:lo, “Ink” – Chill out for a while with “Ink.” Electronica duo il:lo is based in both Germany and France and is made up of producer duo Dejan Dejado and Andreas Schütz. “Ink” begins slowly, with harps and strings, until a steady beat comes pulsing in, anchoring the song, while low end synths swell beneath. Also featuring piano and sampling, “Ink” is perfect for dancing or dreaming.

Colony House, “Would Ya Could Ya” – Rock out with Tennessee quartet Colony House! Their straightforward rock is refreshing and exhilarating on “Would Ya Could Ya.” This infectious song comes roaring in with an insistent drumbeat and a Dandy-Warhols-esque guitar line, and it doesn’t let up. “Would ya would ya run away with me,” Caleb Chapman hollers. “Could ya use a change of scenery? … I know I could, lately.” Who wouldn’t want to turn it up and sing along? Colony House’s fourth album, The Cannonballers, is out on Feb. 3.

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Slow Fiction, “In the distance, where it doesn’t matter” – Brooklyn rockers Slow Fiction combine fuzzy garage rock with Julia Vassallo’s poppy vocals, which are reminiscent of ’90s icons like Dolores O’Riordan and Shirley Manson. Vassallo says this song is about when the lines of reality and perception become distorted. The title comes from the poem ‘Imagining Defeat’ by the late David Berman (The Silver Jews). Slow Fiction’s debut EP is out next month.

Annabelle Freedman, “Slippin” – Annabelle Freedman’s voice is otherworldly perfection. Their strong, clear vocals are the center of “Slippin,” off Breadcrumb Libations. In addition to their solo work, Freedman has been heard on work from other artists including Lauren Ruth Ward, Def Sound, Holy Wars and TwoLips. “Slippin through the fingertips/ I feel it slowly losing grip,” Freedman sings, their voice accompanied only by a tenor guitar. Give yourself a treat today and let Freedman sweep you away. “Slippin” is truly enchanting.

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Rob Kovacs, “Star Forge” – Rob Kovacs is a pianist and singer-songwriter who has composed a soundtrack to the virtual reality game “STRAYLIGHT.” “Star Forge” is a chillwave track built around a retro synth (Prophet 5) line run through modern technology, creating an unusual and unique sound. Kovacs has also made a name for himself reimagining classic video game themes for the piano under the name 88bit – check out his medleys on YouTube!

Ali Farka Touré, “Safari” – A new album of previously unreleased material from African guitarist and singer Ali Farka Touré, named Voyageur, is coming out March 10. “Safari” is the first single from that album, and it features calabash percussion and Fula flute, in addition to Touré’s legendary guitar playing. The album is produced by Nick Gold, along with Ali’s son Vieux Farka Touré. For those not fluent in Swahili or have never wondered why an internet browser would be called “Safari,” the word means journey or voyage. So think of this one as the title track. Incidentally, Ali Farka Touré was from Mali, where Swahili was not spoken.

Rachel’s pick: I gotta give it to Quasi. I’m so glad to see these legends return, especially since they had to cancel their last tour a few years ago, after drummer Janet Weiss was in a car accident. It’s so great to hear her back at full strength as she is absolutely one of the greatest drummers of all time. Plus, Sam Coomes is a musical genius, so I know we’re in for a real treat when their new album comes out.

Follow Rachel Alm at Twitter.com/thouzenfold and Instagram.com/thousandfold.