There was a period, roughly between 2011 and 2015, when bedroom producers who had become well-versed in their easily accessible (and likely cracked) production software were putting out songs both melodic and maximalist. They were indebted to the music they grew up with around the turn of the century, flipping recognizable samples in all sorts of different directions. Internet commenters called it “wonky” or “purple sound.” To me, it sounded like a step forward in pop electronic music.

“where r we going?” by UK producer es.cher arrives like a long lost standard from this period. It's club-ready, first and foremost, a steady pulse leading to satisfying glitch breakdowns. Vocal samples are sharp and refracted, shimmering on top of the synths. Rhythms stutter and skip like a frozen computer screen that’s been clicked one too many times. “where r we going?” isn’t just a call back to a particular period — it’s a display of a producer growing comfortable with their toolbox.

Written by Miguel Otarola