Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

Hime Trance Anime*Mix!
Release Date: 1/21/09
Price: 2171 yen

The good news is that Anime*Mix is selling better than Tsukasa Mix. The bad news is that the sales still haven’t all that great. In its first week out it moved about 6,000 units, and during week two it sold an additional 4,000. Hime Trance Speed, by comparison, sold 9,000 copies in its first week out, then 12,000 more the second week. I think Anime*Mix’s sales are enough to continue the series for a while, but if things don’t pick up Hime Trance could go the way of Dancemania. 🙁

Hime Trance Anime*Mix!
Release Date: 1/21/09
Price: 2171 yen

Album of the year! Okay, it may be a tad early to make such a bold claim, but Hime Trance Anime*Mix! is at least the best trance release to come out of Japan in quite a while. Unlike the last 3 or so Hime Trance releases, Anime*Mix! has a very good ratio of new songs to old. And while there are a few repeats, almost all of them are exceptional and are worthy of being repeated. If you’ve soured on trance because of the constant repeats, then Anime*Mix may well reinvigorate your love of trance.

Anime*Mix! brings together some of the best trance producers Japan has to offer. Delaction and Dank-One once again bring their A-games, while newer artists such as Redalice and CMS help to add a dose of freshness. Unfortunately, the booklet is light on credits, so it’s hard to tell who produced some of the tracks.

Not only does Anime*Mix! have a wide array of producers, but it also has an equally diverse set of vocal talent. Hinax and Mepomi are among the artists making their Hime Trance debuts. Meanwhile, Tsukasa and Kei, both reigning trance queens, return with awesome new material. The only “hime” missing is Misa. 🙁

Interestingly, while the first half of the album is a standard 145 BPM, the second half speeds up significantly. At first it goes to 150, but soon reaches around 165 before ending at 180 BPM. Methinks that if there’s a Hime Trance Speed 2, a good chunk of the second half will be repeated.

Sales have been decent so far, though from what I can tell it’s tracking slightly below Hime Trance Speed. I certainly hope sales improve so that we can guarantee a sequel. EMI are pretty much out of anime songs to repeat, so a potential sequel would be 100% new material.

Order at CDJapan. First-press copies come with stickers, but all copies will come with a lyrics booklet.

Full track-by-track review after the jump.

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Hime Trance Anime*Mix
Release Date: 1/21/09
Price: 2171 yen

The official Dancemania website has been updated with Hime Trance Anime*Mix info. Pay no heed to the 1/14 release date; the official release date is still 1/21.

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Hime Trance Anime*Mix
Release Date: 1/21/09
Price: 2171 yen

One new song from Tsukasa!
Two new songs from Kei!!
Two new songs from ari/Aya!!!
Two new songs from Chika!!!!
Two new songs from mint!!!!!
Gavin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As Kylie would put it, wa-wa-wa-WOW! The only Hime Trance queen missing is Misa!

There are, of course, some repeats. Six tracks are from previous releases in the Hime Trance series. EMI also chose to license one song from Quake’s Speed Anime Trance Best series. Thankfully, it turns out to be one of the best: Florence’s “Komm, susser Tod.” Still, 7 old tracks out of 21 means that 2/3 of the album is brand new. That’s the largest percentage of new tracks on a Dancemania/Trance Paradise album in quite some time.

I’ve also been informed by DJ Tomoe that the princess on the cover is modeled after Rei Ayanami from the Neon Genesis Evangelion series. Hooray for copyright infringement!

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Hime Trance Tsukasa Mix
Release Date: 11/12/08
Price: 1886 yen

I was fully expecting to hate this based on principle alone. After all, less than half of the album is actually new, and how many times have we heard In My Heart now? It’s as if there are two constants in J-Trance: In My Heart and Sousei no Aquarion.

After giving the album a few listens, however, I have to admit that it’s convenient having all of the Tsukasa tracks collected in a nice little package (emphasis on little). In My Heart, Mermaid, and Prologue have long since been played out, but Kira Kira, Precious My Love and Kimi e no Omoi still have an air of freshness about them so I don’t mind listening to them again.

As for the new tracks, they’re all surprisingly exceptional. Eternal Blaze leads the way with Delaction’s melodic synths combining with Tsukasa’s cute vocals for pure aural perfection. Meanwhile, “Dear…” and “Love & Joy” have been given new remixes that breath new life into these old songs. Merry Christmas finishes the non-stop mix with a sweet, Engrish-filled Christmas song.

The first 6 tracks run at a constant 145 BPM, then it ramps up to 160 BPM for Prologue followed by ~175 BPM for Love & Joy. Merry Christmas finishes things off at 140 BPM. None of the transitions are particularly noteworthy, but since most of the album is 145 BPM, Team Cha-Meshi easily managed to make the non-stop mix seamless.

First-press copies came with (useless) stickers, but all copies come with a lyrics booklet. It’s rather surprising how much English is actually in these songs, though you’d never know it based on Tsukasa’s pronunciations. She’s actually admitted that English is difficult for her, and that she sings it all phonetically.

Sadly, Tsukasa Mix has not been selling well at all. Whereas Hime Trance Speed sold 9,000 units in its first week out, Tsukasa Mix has sold well under 2,000 copies after one week. If you ever want to see a Kei Mix or Misa Mix, then please support the Hime Trance series.

Full track-by-track review after the jump.

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Hime Trance Anime*Mix
Release Date: 1/21/09
Price: 2171 yen

It seems like the only dance/trance compilations that come out anymore feature anime song covers. So, instead of finally getting Hime Trance 4, we’ll be getting Anime*Mix instead. Sigh.

The artists listed below aren’t yet confirmed, but we all know that EMI love to use repeats. Also expect new recordings from Hime Trance mainstays Kei and Tsukasa as well as Heavens Wire and Delaction.

Anyone happen to know if the princess featured on the cover is supposed to be from some anime?

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Hime Trance presents Tsukasa Mix
Release Date: 11/12/08
Price: 1886 yen

Yet another wasted opportunity. There are 5 songs that are new to the Hime Trance series (7 if you count the bonus tracks), but I’m tired of hearing “In My Heart” and “Prologue” at this point. And as awesome as Delaction usually are, their remix of “Mermaid” is sorely lacking. This had better be the last time we see any of those again.

Tentative track list and more analysis after the jump.

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Hime Trance presents Tsukasa Mix
Release Date: 11/12/08
Price: 1886 yen

The early track list is out and from the looks of it all of the songs will indeed be by Tsukasa.

There’ll be a number of repeats appearing, and it’s rather disappointing that we’ll be seeing the same old remixes making return appearances when other, better remixes exist. For instance, there are a ton of great remixes of “Prologue,” so why subject us to the same old Spacey vs. garamonn Remix yet again?

Tentative track list and more analysis after the jump.

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Hime Trance presents Tsukasa Mix
Release Date: 11/12/08
Price: 1886 yen

Not much info on this yet, though it’s probably a safe bet that it’ll feature Hime Trance tracks selected by Tsukasa. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw most, if not all, of Tsukasa’s previous tracks make an appearance. However, that wouldn’t be enough to make an entire album, so we’ll likely be seeing repeats in addition to a few new tracks from the likes of Shohei Matsumoto and Delaction.

Tsukasa, I beg of you, don’t let this turn into Hime Trance Best 2!

Hime Trance Speed
Release Date: 7/30/08
Price: 1886 yen

Good news, everyone! Hime Trance Speed sold better its second week out and actually reached number one on the international album sales charts. HTS sold 12,000 copies last week compared to 9,000 during the first week of release. That’s a decent bump, but if you haven’t ordered your copy yet, make sure to do so soon in order to guarantee that the series continues!

Hime Trance Speed
Release Date: 7/30/08
Price: 1886 yen

The Dancemania Speed series has been dormant for a while now (and no, I don’t count Happy Speed), so it came as a surprise to see the series revived in the form of Hime Trance Speed. HTS is clash of the old with the new, with classic Dancemania Speed tracks appearing along with brand-new remixes of popular Hime Trance and anime songs.

It is a little jarring to hear all of the different styles come together on the same album, sort of like Speed Buyuuden. However, unlike Quiqman, DJ Hibiki of Delaction did a great job with the mixing. The album starts off at 160 BPM and stays there for the first few tracks before going up to 170-180 BPM, where it stays for the remainder of the album. No unnaturally fast BPMs here.

The transitions are mostly of the beat-mixing variety, and for the most part work well. The only awkward transition is the one into “Max,” if only because he kept the “Smile” part in.

Sales have been brisk so far, so I do think a sequel is a given. With any luck, we may also finally see Speed G6. KCP and Runaway may no longer be around, but Delaction, Shohei Matsumoto, and the J-Core artists have proven that they’re more than capable of producing fantastic Speed songs. If we do get a Hime Trance Speed 2, I just hope there are fewer repeats and more contributions from Saifam and LED. Use those new Rose songs, EMI!

Full review after the jump, but for now, enjoy the TV commercial:
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=KjcnaUmJyhY

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Hime Trance Speed
Release Date: 7/30/08
Price: 1886 yen

Official site updated!

Final list with remix names and track lengths:

01. [3:22] Ima Kono Toki Dake / Shin Yoshimune Soundtrack
02. [4:35] Prologue (Spacey vs. garamonn Remix) / Tsukasa
03. [4:01] God Knows… / Kei
04. [4:22] Sorairo Days / Delaction feat. Chika
05. [2:39] All Around the World (E=MC2 Mix) / Zippers
06. [1:55] Butterfly (Upswing Mix) / Smile.dk
07. [1:45] I Do I Do I Do (KCP Remix) / Creamy
08. [4:15] Cartoon Heroes (Speedy Mix) / Barbie Young
09. [3:51] Robin Robin Hood (Speed Version) / Jenny Rom
10. [2:55] Motteke! Sailor Fuku / Vacuum
11. [2:39] Max Don’t Have Sex with Your Ex (Grandale Mix) / E-Rotic
12. [3:47] Girlfriend (Speedy Mix) / Hanna
13. [2:24] Paya Paya (Redalice Mix) / Dank-One feat. ari
14. [2:43] Heaven Is a Place on Earth / Wildside
15. [2:53] Sky High (Speed Remix) / DJ Miko
16. [3:42] D.O.U.B.T!!! ~Ai no Kakehiki wa DA*U*TO*~ (kors k vs. Omega Force Remix) / 4 Skips vs. Floorbreaker
17. [3:54] Sousei no Aquarion (DJ 92 Mix) / Dank-One feat. ari
18. [4:39] Sound of My Dream / DJ 92
19. [3:24] Senorita (Speedy Mix) / Jenny Rom
20. [3:13] Zankoku na Tenshi no These (Quiqman Mix) / Nuts
Bonus Track
21. [3:27] Realize / SP Show*Hey? feat. Ichiko

Well, the Saifam songs got longer edits, but the KCP remixes unfortunately did not. The new tracks are quite lengthy, though.

Please, if you have any interest in seeing the Speed series continue, pre-order your copy today!

CD Japan – Hime Trance Speed

HMV

Hime Trance Speed
Release Date: 7/30/08
Price: 1886 yen

A near-final list has been announced. Remix names are still unknown, but I’m assuming that the Dancemania tracks will be the existing Speed remixes.

01. Ima Kono Toki Dake / Shin Yoshimune Soundtrack
02. Prologue (Spacey vs. garamonn Remix) / Tsukasa
03. God Knows… [from Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu] / Kei
04. Sorairo Days [from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann] / Delaction feat. Chika
05. All Around the World (E=MC2 Mix) / Zippers
06. Butterfly (Upswing Mix) / Smile.dk
07. I Do I Do I Do (KCP Remix) / Creamy
08. Cartoon Heroes (Speedy Mix) / Barbie Young
09. Robin Robin Hood (Speed Version) / Jenny Rom
10. Motteke! Sailor Fuku [from Lucky*Star] / ???
11. Max Don’t Have Sex with Your Ex (Grandale Mix) / E-Rotic
12. Girlfriend / Hanna
13. Paya Paya / Dank-One feat. ari
14. Heaven Is a Place on Earth / Wildside
15. Sky High (Speed Remix) / DJ Miko
16. D.O.U.B.T!!! ~Ai no Kakehiki wa DA*U*TO*~ / 4 Skips vs. Floorbreaker
17. Sousei no Aquarion / Dank-One feat. ari
18. Sound of My Dream / DJ 92
19. Senorita (Speedy Mix) / Jenny Rom
20. Zankoku na Tenshi no These / Nuts
Bonus Track
21. ??? / ???

By my count there are about 9-10 new tracks, which is phenomenal compared to the other trance releases this year. I’m mostly looking forward to hearing how Delaction’s Speed debut, though I’m also mighty curious to hear the Hime Trance remixes. As for the repeats, at least most of them haven’t been overused in the past. “Around the World” and “Robin Robin Hood” in particular are both pleasant surprises.

Again, if Hime Trance Speed sells well we may see a new Speed revolution. In fact, signs are already pointing to Speed being the next major dance genre. Quake’s Speed Anime Trance 4 is selling very well at the moment, as is Caramell’s Speed Album. Hime Trance Speed may be the release that pushes the genre into the mainstream again, just as the Dancemania Speed series once did.

CD Japan – Hime Trance Speed

Hime Trance Speed
Release Date: 7/30/08
Price: 1886 yen

Just a few new tidbits of information. First, “Ima Kono Toki Dake” is slated to be the lead track. After all, it’s not a true Hime Trance album if the first song isn’t from a Pachislot soundtrack.

Next, Delaction along with Chika will be performing the cover of “Sorairo Days.” Delaction will also be in charge of mixing the album, so we don’t have to worry about the song being unnaturally sped up to 190 BPM.

Hime Trance Speed
Release Date: 7/30/08
Price: 1886 yen

Amazon Japan put up the final cover. I don’t think it’s a Disney princess this time. Maybe Disney are on to them.

Once again, here are the previously announced tracks:

01. Ima Kono Toki Dake / Shin Yoshimune Soundtrack
02. Sousei no Aquarion (Speed Mix) / Dank-One feat. ari
03. Tamashii no Refrain [from Shin Seiki Evangelion] / Kayoco
04. God Knows… [from Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu] /
05. Motteke! Sailor Fuku [from Lucky*Star] /
06. Sorairo Days [from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann] /
07. Mizu no Hoshi he Ai wo Komete (For Us to Decide) [from Kidou Senshi Zeta Gundam] / Haruna Ochi
08. Prologue / Tsukasa
09. Butterfly (Speed Mix) / Smile.dk
10. Max Don’t Have Sex with Your Ex (Speed Mix) / E-Rotic
11. Sky High (Speed Mix) / DJ Miko
12. Girlfriend (Avril Lavigne Cover) / Hanna
13. Cartoon Heroes (Aqua Cover) / Barbie Young
14. Paya Paya (Speed Remix) / Dank-One feat. ari
15. D.O.U.B.T!!! ~Ai no Kakehiki wa DA*U*TO*~ (Speed Remix) / 4 Skips vs. Floorbreaker
16. I Do I Do I Do (Speed Remix) / Creamy
17. Sound of My Dream / DJ 92

There’s also some news on more potential tracks:

18. New Song / Kei (Confirmed)
19. New Song / REDALiCE (Confirmed)
20. Lucky Girl (Remix) / Miki Matsuzawa (Unconfirmed)

So, not only are EMI licensing existing J-Core tracks, they’ve apparently commissioned brand-new songs as well. Actually, it’s unknown if REDALiCE’s track will be an original song or just a remix of one of the Hime Trance songs. If it’s the latter, then I’d expect the Hime Trance songs to be remixed by the likes of kors k and DJ Shimamura.

Sadly, there’s still no news on whether Saifam or LED will contribute new tracks.

CD Japan – Hime Trance Speed