World Cup 2010 kicks off in about 10 minutes. Don’t be surprised if FACT is a little distracted over the ensuing month.

That said, while the past week has been dominated by thoughts of the imminent tournament, it’s been a fruitful and varied one here on the site. We opened proceedings on Monday with the long-awaited FACT mix from Kode9, an amazing selection of ’94-’96 jungle, following it today with a high-BPM, juke-inspired selection from Addison Groove, maker of the eponymous ‘Footcrab’. We don’t half spoil you.

In features, we published a rare-as-hen’s-teeth interview with Regis, the Birmingham hailing techno recording artist and label-owner behind Downwards and Sandwell District. One of dance music’s last cult heroes, Regis’s integrity, sense of humour and refusal to compromise make him a shining example to all artists, whatever their medium or genre. Oh, and he also happens to be responsible for some of the most intense and innovative music of the past twenty of years. Whether you’ve heard of him before or not, we impel you to get acquainted, beginning here.

We also found time to profile Funkineven, the talented young Londoner whose futuristic boogie confections have earned him a place in Alex Nut and Floating Points’ Eglo family, not to mention a production role in Roisin Murphy’s next album.

In album reviews this week, Ratatat’s LP4 scored highest, described as “one of the year’s most rich, expansive and frequently rewarding records. Southern hip-hopper Big K.R.I.T.’s free mixtape, K.R.I.T. Wuz Here received props, as did debut albums by Dokkebi Q and Mathew Jonson. Robyn’s Body Talk Pt. 2 however, was less convincing.

In track reviews, Drake and The-Dream hit 4.5 on our scale with ‘Shut Em Down’, the seven-minute centrepiece to Drake’s Thank Me Later. Excellent new singles by Deep Teknologi’s T. Williams and Hessle Audio’s Joe scored well, as did Madvillain’s ‘Papermill’ and Baobinga, Cosmin TRG and Ginz’ ‘The Good Stank’/’I Get Ruff’.

In news, we reported on new records from Antena, Robyn, Kompakt, Big Boi, Touch, James Chance and Panda Bear, and were pleased to announce details of our next free FACT party, taking place at The Lock Tavern on July 4, with guests Guido, Pearson Sound and XXXY.

Right, have a good weekend all, and enjoy the beginnings of the tournament. Music is a constant; the World Cup comes but once every four years…