Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

Million Dance 2
Release Date: 12/25/13
Price: 1886 yen

Wow, this is quite a surprise. The sequel to Warner’s Million Dance will come out on Christmas day, less than two months after the first CD. The series is interesting because it features dance music from around the world. In fact, they’re currently recruiting Japanese producers on Facebook. The first release included a track from Prog5, which is one of the aliases of Shohei Matsumoto (aka Heavens Wire), so I can’t wait to see who might show up on the sequel.

I’m just disappointed they didn’t go with Billion Dance. 🙁

Read the rest of this entry »

Vocarock collection 5 feat. Hatsune Miku
Release Date: 12/25/13
Price: 1905 yen

The fifth main release in FARM’s Vocarock series, which features Vocaloid rock songs. There’ll be 20 tracks in all from famous Vocaloid producers like Neru, Scop, and others. Bonus items include a 3D cover and guitar pick. You can visit the official website for more info.

Read the rest of this entry »

Love EDM -Party Queen- mixed by DJ Yuria
Release Date: 12/11/13
Price: 1900 yen

FARM’s Love EDM series continues with a new entry mixed by DJ Yuria.

Read the rest of this entry »

Piano Best -Ghibli and more- performed by Piano Master
Release Date: 12/11/13
Price: 1900 yen

This is kind of a surprise. Piano House was a pretty big genre back in 2009, but by 2010 the fad fizzled out. The last Piano Master album came out in June of 2010, so it’s odd that they’re releasing a best-of album 3 years later. As the title suggests, most of the tracks will be arrangements of Ghibli themes, though there are some classical arrangements and even a trance arrangement as well.

Read the rest of this entry »

Super Hits 90’s -J-Pop & Yo-Gaku Best- mixed by DJ Mike-Masa
Release Date: 10/30/13
Price: 1886 yen

A 2-disc compilation from FARM Records that’s exclusive to Tsutaya Records stores. The first disc features covers of J-Pop hits while the second disc has international hits.

Read the rest of this entry »

Perfect Best -Special Megamix-
Release Date: 11/6/13
Price: 1900 yen

A new 50-track non-stop mix from FARM Records. Quite a few new productions from FARM’s stable of artists, including 4 new songs by my favorite producer, Daiki × ZK . Unfortunately, many of the tracks have very short edits. Not sure who did the mixing, but whoever it was deserves kudos for placing “Don’t Wake Me Up” right after “Wake Me Up!”

Read the rest of this entry »

ZIPmania All Best Mix
Release Date: 11/13/13
Price: 2190 yen

Update (11/25/13): A bit of good news for Dancemania fans. ZIPmania All Best Mix managed to snag a spot on the Oricon weekly Top 100, debuting at 97 for the week of its release. It’s far from the days when Dancemania releases routinely broke the Top 20, but when you compare it to VIP X (115), Super Eurobeat Vol. 225 (182), Speed Anime Trance Best 19 (111) or even Dancemania Party (184), it’s a surprisingly solid number. ZIPmania’s companion release, ZIP Hot 100, debuted at 125.

And for those that missed it in the comments, the old Dancemania website has been reproduced on Universal’s site: http://microsites.universal-music.co.jp/dancemania/

Read the rest of this entry »

ZIP Hot 100 1993-2013 All Time No. 1 Hits
Release Date: 11/13/13
Price: 2190 yen

This release features songs that have reached the top of the ZIP Hot 100 charts over the past 20 years. Unfortunately, the list skews highly in favor of more recent Universal artists. I think the only EMI artist on the list is Janet Jackson, so I’m not sure how much this will appeal to Dancemania fans. There are 20 full-length tracks plus some talk from ZIP-FM DJs.

Read the rest of this entry »

Blue Dragon
Artist: Seiryu
Release Date: 12/25/13
Price: 1905 yen

Santa’s bringing a special present this year for Ryu* fans. Back when Plan 8 was released I speculated that the relatively small number of tracks would mean they would release two Ryu* albums this year, and it ended up being true. Seiryu is the alias that Ryu* uses for 190+ BPM tracks, and Blue Dragon will focus on songs he’s released under the alias as well as his other dragon aliases. Like Plan 8, this album will contain 15 tracks, many of which have previously appeared on various Konami music games.

Bonus items include a cell phone strap, signed seal, pass case, poster, and clear file. The official site is already up with more info.

Read the rest of this entry »

Miki Uta 1
Release Date: 12/18/13
Price: 1905 yen

A new album from Vocaloid producer, Mikito P. There seems to be a focus on the next generation of utaite. Bonus items include a character sticker (1 of 16 designs), B2 poster, and clear file.

Read the rest of this entry »

Exit Tunes presents Ikemen Voice Paradise 7
Release Date: 12/18/13
Price: 1905 yen

The seventh release in the Ikemen Voice Paradise series, which features pretty boys singing Vocaloid songs. Featured utaite include un:c, kain, and Kool. A bit odd that they’re releasing another entry so soon after the last one. Bonus items includes a cell phone strap (1 of 8 designs), poster, and clear file. Visit the official website for more info.

Read the rest of this entry »

Occult Maiden Character Song Album
Release Date: 12/18/13
Price: 2381 yen (CD+DVD Edition) or 1905 yen (CD Only Edition)

A new collaboration between Square Enix and Exit Tunes. Occult Maiden is an iOS/Anrdoid mobile game, and this CD will have characters from the game singing their own themes. Producers include Exit Tunes mainstays like Starving Trancer, YM, and Dead Ball P. Also includes two bonus remixes by DJ Uto and Ryu*. The CD+DVD version includes a DVD with preview videos and commercials. Bonus items include a cell phone strap (1 of 12 designs), poster, clear file, and a serial code for a rare item in the game. Visit the official website for more info.

Read the rest of this entry »

Koharu Sakurai presents Exit Tunes Academy -11th Anniversary Special- @20130407 Saitama Super Arena
Release Date: 12/18/13
Price: 4286 yen (Blu-Ray Edition) or 3333 yen (DVD Edition)

The Exit Tunes Academy live tour has been a huge success for Exit Tunes, and this December they’ll be celebrating the 11th anniversary of the Exit Tunes brand with a special DVD/Blu-Ray release featuring footage shot during the performance at Saitama Super Arena. Almost 18,000 people attended the event to watch ETA artists like Mayumi Morinaga, Shamuon, recog and others perform live.

Both the DVD and Blu-Ray releases will come with a cell phone strap, poster, and clear file. You can visit the official website for more info.

Read the rest of this entry »

Exit Tunes presents Vocalofuture feat. Hatsune Miku
Release Date: 11/6/13
Price: 1905 yen

Twelfth in the hit series of Vocaloid compilation albums, following Vocarhythm, Vocalostar, Vocalolegend, Vocalogenesis, Vocaloanthems, Vocalonexus, Vocalonation, Vocalocluster, Vocalodream, Vocaloconnection, and Vocalosensation. There will be a bevy of bonuses available, many of which will be limited to first-press copies only. All copies of the CD will have a picture label and cardboard sleeve. Limited bonuses include a cell phone strap and mousepad. If you send in the included survey, you can also receive a clear file and fake credit card. Posters will also be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Other limited bonuses include a pass case (1 of 11 designs), cell phone strap (1 of 11 designs), and IC card sticker. Retailer-exclusive bonuses are also available, ranging from coasters to posters.

Visit the official website for samples and more info.

Read the rest of this entry »

Gekkan eta Vol. 06
Release Date: 10/2/13
Price: ??? yen

A new monthly series from Exit Tunes, featuring songs from the Exit Tunes Academy tour. The CDs will only be available for rental at Tsutaya. Visit the official website for more info on the series. Vol. 05 features an exclusive track from ?? (Underbar) × YM.

Read the rest of this entry »