SLAPPER has returned with a full-length statement piece, and “Hope” is exactly that — a slow-burning, emotionally charged album that feels like stepping into a neon-lit memory and coming out lighter on the other side. Built as a journey rather than a collection of tracks, Hope moves through fear, love, pain, and ultimately healing, letting every emotion breathe inside richly textured electronic soundscapes.
From the first moments, the album wraps you in atmospheric synth layers and analog warmth, the kind that feels nostalgic without being stuck in the past. SLAPPER’s melodic instincts shine throughout, blending synthpop sensitivity, melodic techno progression, and trance-influenced energy into something both intimate and expansive. Each track flows naturally into the next, forming a cohesive narrative of renewal — music for late-night reflection, long drives, or quiet personal breakthroughs.
Behind the project is Claudiu-Gabriel Tache, who began SLAPPER in late ’90s Bucharest, long before nostalgia became fashionable. That history shows. There’s a deep respect for classic electronic motifs, echoing influences like Jean-Michel Jarre, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Robert Miles, Moby, and Chicane, yet Hope never feels like a tribute record. Instead, it feels lived-in — shaped by time, pauses, returns, and resilience.
Following the synthwave-leaning Music Box Memories and the emotionally reflective Mirrors, Hope feels like a natural evolution. It’s less about chasing trends and more about emotional clarity. These tracks don’t rush to impress; they invite you in, mirror your own vulnerabilities, and quietly remind you that healing doesn’t arrive all at once — it builds, layer by layer.
Hope is electronic music with a heartbeat
