Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

Million Dance
Release Date: 10/30/13
Price: 1886 yen

Warner have really been on a dance kick lately. It really warms my heart to see dance back on the forefront after being treated like a bastard child during the ’00s. This compilation is particularly interesting because it mostly eschews mainstream acts in favor of more obscure European artists. It also has a few Japanese artists, like DJ Dirt Flare and Prog5 (Shohei Matsumoto/Heavens Wire).

Don’t ask me what on Earth the title means, though. I just hope there’s a sequel so they can call it Billion Dance.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Finest -Dance The Best-
Release Date: 9/18/13
Price: 2171 yen

A new dance compilation from Warner Music. The Finest is an R&B compilation series similar in vein to EMI’s VIP or Universal’s What’s Up. In fact, Universal and Warner collaborated on a The Finest × What’s Up release as well as on What’s Up × The Finest.

This CD was originally conceived as a 2-CD set titled The Finest The Best of Best R&B / Dance / Hip Hop. However, dance is back in fashion now, so Warner apparently decided to ditch the R&B/Hip-Hop and went for a single-CD dance compilation instead. Also, CD Japan list it as “The Finest -The Dance The Best-,” which I find mildly amusing for its overuse of articles.

Read the rest of this entry »

V.I.P. 10th Anniversary Best Mix
Release Date: 10/30/13
Price: 2171 yen

The 10th release in the V.I.P. series will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the series, which began in 2003. The release is a little earlier than usual, though. Previous release in the main series have always come out in December. I wonder if this non-stop mix is a special release, and they’ll release a proper V.I.P. X in December?

Anyway, it’s nice to see Universal continue an EMI series. There may be hope for Dancemania yet. I’m sure in 2016 they’ll announce a 20th anniversary Dancemania release…then cancel it two months later.

Read the rest of this entry »

DJ Kaori’s Party Mix 5
Release Date: 8/21/13
Price: 2286 yen

The latest release in the hugely popular DJ Kaori’s Mix series, which has sold over 4 million copies over the years since its debut in 2005. You can visit the official website for more info on previous entries. A lot of EDM tracks on this one.

Read the rest of this entry »

Whatever Harajuku
Artist: Mademoiselle Yulia
Release Date: 9/18/13
Price: 1886 yen

Second album from the electro queen.

Read the rest of this entry »

Harajuku Wander (Single)
Artist: Mademoiselle Yulia
Release Date: 8/28/13
Price: 250 yen

Lead single from Mademoiselle Yulia’s second album. Available on iTunes Japan.

Read the rest of this entry »

K-Pop Party Mix Best ~Best of K-Pop Cover Selection~
Release Date: 9/4/13
Price: 1886 yen

The last release in this series, K-Pop Party Mix III, debuted back in March of 2012, so it’s odd that they waited over a year to do a best album. There are 50 tracks in all, including the best of the previous three releases as well as some new productions, including “Gangnam Style” and “Gentleman.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Boys Pop Best ~Kiite Okitai Yougaku Boys Selection~
Release Date: 10/16/13
Price: 1800 yen

FARM apparently have boy band fever, as this new compilation will feature dance covers of songs by boy bands past and present. One Direction and Backstreet Boys songs make up most of the list, but there are also songs from The Wanted and various other male acts. Oddly, FARM’s own boy band, The United, are nowhere to be found.

Read the rest of this entry »

Agepoyo Party J-Pop Covers
Release Date: 9/4/13
Price: 600 yen

Digital EP featuring full versions of J-Pop covers from Agepoyo Party Mix. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the full-length version of Delaction’s “Butterfly,” and I’m starting to wonder if it’ll ever be made available. 🙁

Available on iTunes Japan.

Read the rest of this entry »

Agepoyo Party Mix
Release Date: 9/4/13
Price: 1714 yen

New dance compilation from VillageAgain, mixed by DJ Agepoyo. Features lots of repeats from Power Music, but also some original Japanese productions as well. Most notable is Delaction’s recent cover of “Butterfly,” as well as a new cover of “Banzai” by Ainyan and other new J-pop covers. Also available on iTunes Japan.

Read the rest of this entry »

Dance! Dance!! Dance!!! mixed by DJ Satoshi
Release Date: 9/4/13 (7/13/13 Tsutaya)
Price: 1714 yen

This new dance compilation from VillageAgain features dance covers of classic 80s and 90s songs. Most of the tracks are produced by Power Music, but there are also a lot of new covers from DJ U*Hey? and even Delaction! The physical CD was previously only available for rental at Tsutaya Records, as well as available digitally on iTunes Japan. However, the physical CD is now for sale at various retailers.

Read the rest of this entry »

No.1 Party Mix -World Famous R&B- mixed by DJ Satoshi
Release Date: 9/4/13 (6/19/13 Tsutaya)
Price: 1714 yen

House compilation from VillageAgain. Sequel to No.1 Party Mix -R&B House Best-. The music is mostly by Power Music, but unfortunately it doesn’t appear that there are any remixes by DJ Satoshi or DJ U*Hey? Previously, it was available exclusively at Tsutaya Records, but this September it will see a wide release at other retailers, including Amazon.

Also Available digitally on iTunes Japan.

Read the rest of this entry »

Meganimation * Anison Party Mix! mixed by DJ Kenzi
Release Date: 10/9/13 (9/18/13 Tsutaya Rental, iTunes)
Price: 1700 yen

A new anison compilation from Star Music. Features covers by a variety of DJs, including former Mega Trance producers, Threemason (DJ U*Hey?) and Jack Clavia (DJ Minagawa). It’s not entirely clear what genre(s) of music will be represented, but given the current climate I’d guesss EDM/house. Available for rental on 9/18/13 at Tsutaya, or digitally from iTunes. If you want the CD version, online retailers will have it in stock on 10/9/13.

Read the rest of this entry »

ADM -Anime Dance Music produced by tkrism-
Artist: Emergency
Release Date: 9/25/13
Price: 2286 yen

The EDM boom is still in full effect, it seems, as evidenced by this combination of EDM and anime songs. The music is produced by tkrism, with vocals by Emergency. You can find more news on the group on their official website.

There’ll be retailer-exclusive bonuses available, ranging from bonus drama CDs to alternative CD covers.

Read the rest of this entry »

Saifam Speed – June/July/August 2013
Artist: Various Artists

The past 3 months have brought quite a few new Speed tracks, with June in particular being very prolific.

SPE222 – [4:10] Cruise (The Factory Speedo remix) / Speedmaster
SPE223 – [3:48] Hava Nagila 2 0 (Alternative Sound remix) / Don Pablos Animals
SPE224 – [4:17] Here’s To Never Growing Up (Speed version) / Speedmaster
SPE225 – [4:14] Happening / Speedmaster
SPE226 – [4:25] One Day (Speed remix) / Speedmaster
SPE227 – [4:16] Gangsta’s Paradise (Alternative Sound Planet remix) / Speedogang
SPE228 – [3:50] Old Time Rock & Roll / Speedmaster
SPE229 – [4:08] The Other Side (AR speed mix) / Speedmaster