As FunkinEven, Steven Julien cobbles together nutso boogiefunk and digi-pop.

Since emerging with ‘Kleer’ on Eglo back in 2009, the producer has released a cluster of fun, sometimes frivolous singles. He turned out the Aapron EP on his own label of the same name back in 2011, and last impressed with the Brighton pier theatricals of ‘Chips’ earlier this year. As we discovered during our Guide To Detroit feature, he’s also collaborating with techno wonder kid Kyle Hall.  FunkinEven is now back on Eglo for an exceptional new single, ‘Phoneline’, and Playground point towards a recording of the track, culled from Rinse FM’s Hyperdub show.

‘Phoneline’ is a blinder – a triumph of mutant, silly, playful, coquettish, technicolour pop. Fatima and FunkinEven talk dirty to each other over a stuttering instrumental. Much more singular than acid-pastiche breakthrough ‘Rolands Jam’, it trots along at a real lick – if the Sugababes hopped on this, it’s be topping Tracks Of The Year lists everywhere from The Guardian to your next hipsterette Blogspot. Radio rips are normally a pain in the posterior, but the Scratcha patter is fun as always. ‘Phoneline’ is due later this month.