I’m not somebody who’s prone to hyperbole, so I’ll say this in my own typically understated manner: this is the best thing ever to happen to me in my life.

On January 27, Ian Maleney’s Quarter Inch Collective will release Quompilation #1, a download/cassette-only compilation of 13 Irish acts covering their favourite songs from 2009 in their own inimitable styles. The compilation features the diverse line-up of Cloud Castle Lake, Flok, Ginola, Hipster Youth, Kid Karate, Market Force,No Monster Club, Patrick Kelleher, Rhino Magic, Sacred Animals, Spies, Squareheadand We Are Losers, although the exact tracklist is being kept firmly under wraps.

Luckily, we’ve been supplied with a couple of advanced screenings from the tape, and today saw Dublin scuzz-pop outfit Squarehead premiere their cover of labelmates Adebisi Shank‘s ‘(-_-)’  (in single quotes that almost looks like Napster propaganda.) It’s not just a straight cover though: the trio have added a sun-kissed vocal melody so that we can all now sing along to the tune without looking as demented as I usually do.

Squarehead – (-_-) (Adebisi Shank Cover) by Quarter Inch Collective

(Photo by Loreana Rushe, modified by Nialler9)