New Alloapm: Wavepop EP

The “list a bunch of your favorite acts” trick is a classic approach to songwriting – some folks who have indulged in it include Daft Punk, The Tough Alliance, LCD Soundsystem, Daft Punk again (sorta). Tokyo’s Alloapm pulls this card on the opening track to their new EP Wavepop. Over an upbeat assortment of synths, they spend the duration of “Talking To My Radio” giving approving shout-outs to the likes of Whitney Houston, Giorgio Moroder and Hall & Oates among others. As the lyrical heart of an uptempo dance-pop number…one featuring electro-manipulated singing…it works wonders, and is a heck of a way to start a very nice EP.

The rest of Wavepop is less worried about honoring the past and more focused on the floor. “Midnight Cake” struts along, despite being a downtrodden number, the sort of track designed not for a club but a midnight walk around downtown Shibuya. On the more light-hearted side is “Malibu Club,” featuring Kai Lavatai handling vocals. Of the three original tracks here (also included…a remix of “Talking To My Radio”) it’s the most dance-worthy and also the one most indebted to antiquated sounds…it is very ’80s, for better and worse. Yet, like the whole EP, it’s pretty darn enjoyable. Alloapm clearly paid attention to their heroes. Listen below.