Vocarock collection 4
Release Date: 11/28/12
Price: 1905 yen
Fourth release in the now-annual series. Features newly commissioned songs from popular Vocaloid producers. First-press copies come with a jacket sticker, cardboard sleeve, and guitar pick. There are also retailer-exclusive bonuses available, including a 17-track karaoke CD from Animate. Visit the official website for samples and more info.
V.I.P. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop/Dance Trax IX
Release Date: 12/19/12
Price: 2171 yen
Final list has been revealed for this 9th release in the V.I.P. series. As expected, it has quite a bit of EDM on it.
Anim80s 2 ~Anime Hits in 80s Disco Style~
Release Date: 11/28/12
Price: 1886 yen
Hit anime themes remade in an 80s disco-pop style. Got my copy a few days ago and it’s mostly enjoyable. I’m not gonna lie, I don’t immediately recognize what served as the inspiration for most of the tracks. Many of the songs on the first Anim80s used rather distinctive synths or beats that made their inspirations clear. For example, “Cat’s Eye” was unmistakably modeled after “Beat It” while “Shuuketsu no Sono e” imitated the synths from “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” The songs on Anim80s 2 don’t quite have the same recognizable hooks. However, there were many times when I was listening to the album and thought, “Wow, this sounds really familiar,” but couldn’t place the source material. In some ways it’s better that way in that it lets the productions stand on their own, but I kind of miss the fun in comparing the songs to the originals, so to speak.
Hopefully this will lead to Anim90s, as unpronounceable as that may be. I’d love to hear the themes in classic 90s eurodance style.
The album is available on iTunes JP and other Japanese download services, but as with the first Anim80s it’s mixed, so no full versions. 🙁
Devilman·Mazinger Z Seitan 40 Shuunen Kinen DZ40
Release Date: 1/16/13
Price: 1905 yen
A special compilation that will celebrate the works of Go Nagai, famous for creating Devilman, Mazinger Z, Cutie Honey and other mangas. 2012/2013 is the 40th anniversary of the Devilman and Mazinger Z anime series and movies, so this CD will feature Exit Tunes artists reinterpreting popular theme songs from those works. CD Japan’s description specifies “Exit Tunes” artists, so while I would expect something from Exit Trance producers, most of the album will probably be populated by Vocaloid producers. Still, this is the kind of random themed release I miss from the glory days of Exit Trance. Announced bonus items includes a B2 poster and clear file.
Quake Trance Best 23 mixed by DJ Uto
Release Date: 11/21/12
Price: 1905 yen
The 23rd release in the Quake Trance Best series features 3 new DJ Uto feat. Mayu songs plus 13 other tracks from popular hard dance producers.
House Flavor R&B ~Original Best~ Vol. 6
Release Date: 11/21/12
Price: 1200 yen
6th release in the digital series, which collects fulls versions of songs from various FARM compilations. Once again, it’s exclusive to iTunes Japan. Quite a few recent tracks on this one, many of which were featured on Extra Party Best.
Take Over Control (Single)
Artist: Afrojack feat. Eva Simons
Release Date: 11/21/12
Price: 476 yen
FARM are doing their best to capitalize on the recent EDM boom in Japan. They previously released this single digitally in early 2011, but now they’re releasing in in physical form, with fewer tracks to boot. -_- It’s kind of a missed opportunity to have their own DJs do remixes. I would’ve loved it if Daiki x ZK, Minimum Cox, or DJ U*Hey? did a remix. Anyway, FARM set up a mini site for the single: http://www.farm-records.com/afrojack/
Sound Drive -Drift Luxy V.I.P.-
Artist: N.O.-SYO
Release Date: 12/19/12
Price: 2095 yen
Previously known as Sound Drive 2nd D.L.V., I guess we know what the DLV stood for now. In addition to new tracks, there are also repeats from some of the EPs he’s released since the first Sound Drive, as well as remixes from songs from Sound Drive and previous albums. I kinda wish there was more new material, but I’ll take whatever N.O.-SYO I can get.
I contacted CDJapan to see if they would be carrying it, but they replied, “Unfortunately, it won’t be possible for us to get it supplied. The label is selling it independently, and none of the record company we have dealings with will be able to get it supplied, either.” Bummer. Thankfully, HMV Japan and Amazon Japan do have it up for pre-order, and both ship overseas. Hopefully N.O.-SYO will put it up for sale as a digital download, but he never did so with the first Sound Drive. 🙁
Drive ga 100-bai Tanoshiku Naru 90s Best
Release Date: 1/30/13
Price: 1886 yen
This entry in the Drive ga 100-bai series features 90s dance classics from the likes of Spice Girls, Me & My, Smile.dk, MC Hammer, Bellini, and a whole host of other names you’ve seen in Dancemania before.
Drive ga 100-bai Tanoshiku Naru 80s Best
Release Date: 1/30/13
Price: 1886 yen
The “Drive ga 100-bai” series rolls on next January with another pair of releases. If there’s anything that EMI love to repeat more than AKBK Eurobeat, it’s 80s and 90s classics. This compilation has 80s mainstays from Culture Club, Kylie, Blondie, Duran Duran, and more.
Drive ga 100-bai Tanoshiku Naru J-Pop Mix
Release Date: 12/12/12
Price: 1886 yen
More repeats on the J-Pop edition, as well. Sigh, I really have nothing left to say about these lazy cash grabs.
Drive ga 100-bai Tanoshiku Naru Anison Mix
Release Date: 12/12/12
Price: 1886 yen
Final list and cover art have been revealed. 100% repeats, including the worst offenders: “Zankoku,” “Sousei,” and “Shangri-La.” EMI is billing “Drive ga 100-bai Tanoshiku Naru” as a new series, but it’s possible it will be considered yet another sub-series of Dancemania.
EDM ~Electronic Dance Madness~ 2
Release Date: 12/5/12 ? 12/12/12
Price: 2190 yen
The album has been delayed a week, but the final track list is out. Almost all of the tracks on the early list have made their way onto the final one.
Love EDM -In the Mix-
Release Date: 12/19/12
Price: 1900 yen
Looks like FARM is following a similar release schedule to EMI’s EDM series. This new EDM compilation comes just 3 months after Party Started by DJ Mike-Masa. No word on who will be mixing this one.
J-Pop Cover Densetsu ~Anison Fever Best~
Release Date: 12/12/12
Price: 1714 yen
New spin-off release in FARM’s J-Pop Cover Densetsu series. At first I though it looked suspiciously like an AKBK track list, but then I remembered that a lot of the tracks have also appeared on FARM’s own Anime*Dance series, which hasn’t seen a release since early 2010. Maybe they figure people will think these are new tracks.
DanceMaster | 
11 30th, 2012| 
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