This week at Juno

The first ‘Best of 2010’ lists and polls started to dribble down the collective chin of the music industry this week, which got us thinking what an amazing year it’s been.

Expect a full ‘Best of…’ round up on Juno Plus very soon, but, for the time being, you’ll have to settle for the best of this week. Thankfully there was plenty in the way of good music, most notably the massive double 12″ release from The Bug, which saw Kevin Martin return to his Ninja Tune roots for two new superb tracks plus remixes from Autechre and Scratcha DVA.

Elsewhere the third volume of the ridiculously hot Square Edits 12”s saw Turkish funkateer Onur Engin turn in four stellar disco tweaks (his simple re-edit of Esther Phillips’ eternally sublime cover of “Home is Where the Hatred Is” being the obvious highlight).

On a deep house tip, Sistrum Records boss Patrice Scott dropped the Analog Dreams EP, while fellow Detroitian Scott Ferguson returned to the production fold with a disco-flecked EP that retained the soul and emotion anything associated with his Ferrispark imprint demands. And not long after a sublime 10” for Firecracker, Vakula returned with an EP for Under The Shade sub-label 3rd Strike, which has already released some fire in 2010 from Erdbeerschnitzel and Mark E.

Ramadanman donned his Pearson Sound alias for two heavy steppers on Hessle Audio, while Dial darling John Roberts remixed Darkstar’s hauntingly beautiful “Gold”. And with techno celebrating its 25th birthday in 2010, Rush Hour picked an opportune time to reissue some vintage Derrick May.

Over at Juno Download, the new Hundred In The Hands single package was notable for delivering the first ever remix from the elusive Tiger & Woods, and we are pleased to inform you that it is very very nice indeed.

After a brief hiatus on Japan’s Mule Musiq, South African Culoe De Song returned to Innervisions with arguably his strongest work to date. Like his previous outings, this two-tracker offers an atmospheric, soft-focus take on deep house that is in turns chilling and quietly uplifting.

Meanwhile Mask-wearing dubstep/future garage fusionist SBTRKT popped up on Young Turks with a four-track EP, while over at Rekids Radio Slave debuted his Machine project.

Right, now it’s time for us to hunker down with some Chinese take out, a box of crayons and a roll of butcher’s paper and decide the heroes and villains of 2010.

As always, happy hunting.