Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

Hime Trance 4 EP – DJ Sampler
Release Date: 2/3/10
Price: $10.32

First a sales update. Hime Trance 4 debuted at #71 on the Oricon charts, with 2,439 copies sold. By comparison, Hime Trance Anime*Mix! debuted at #24 with ~6,000 copies and Hime Trance Best moved 16,000 units in its first week. So, yeah, not that great. I’m thinking that those numbers are decent enough for at least one more release, but even then I’m not so sure.

Still no word on whether EMI will release a download selection, but in the meantime, Shohei Matsumoto has released an EP on iTunes featuring 3 of his original songs from Hime Trance 4. The best news is that it appears to be available worldwide! It’s $1.29 per track, and unfortunately there’s no discount for buying the whole EP, so it’s $10.32 total. Remember, you don’t need a credit card to buy from your local iTunes. Just walk on over to the nearest supermarket and grab an iTunes gift card. This is your chance to support Hime Trance! Now let’s hope he releases a Hime Trance 3 EP so we can finally get the full version of MA*GI*CA*.

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Hime Trance 4
Release Date: 1/27/10
Price: 1886 yen

It’s been a long 2+ years since Hime Trance 3. The wait was more than worth it, however. In addition to new songs from Hime Trance mainstays like Tsukasa, Kei, and Misa (who makes her return after being left off Anime*Mix), we also get brand new Saifam remixes and licensed songs from popular J-Pop artists. It all makes for an extremely satisfying CD that rivals Anime*Mix and perhaps even the first Hime Trance in terms of pure enjoyment.

The last entry in the main series, Hime Trance 3, was full of repeats and songs that weren’t trance. EMI have seemingly learned their lesson, as Hime Trance 4 contains only one true repeat (“Stay,” which was featured on Trance Paradise Best) and one non-trance song (“Miku Miku…”). Another problem with Hime Trance 3 was that it only had one Delaction song, and it was a repeat at that. Hime Trance 4 has four new Delaction songs, which automatically makes it the best album ever.

The bad news is that it’s not selling all that well at the moment. The last HT release, Anime*Mix!, debuted at number 24 on Oricon’s weekly sales chart, but it’s looking like HT4 won’t even break the top 30. Heck, right now Wa Euro Best 2 is outselling Hime Trance 4 on Amazon Japan. EMI actually put some effort into this release, so if you have any interest in seeing the series continue then do consider picking up a copy. It’s available at CDJapan, HMV, Amazon Japan, Yes Asia, and JPopHelp. No word yet on whether a Download Selection will be available, but I’m certainly hoping for it.

Full review after the jump.

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Exit Tunes presents Kamikyoku wo Utatte Mita 2
Release Date: 3/17/10
Price: 1905 yen

The sequel to Kamikyoku wo Utatte Mita will once again pair up amateur vocalists with established Exit Trance artists. That’s pretty much all that’s known about this album at this point. ^^;

Pre-order at CDJapan.

Trance Rave presents Club atom -The Best-
Release Date: 2/10/10
Price: 1900 yen

STAY?! There are a few new songs and remixes, so it’s not a total loss. But for the life of me I can’t figure out why “Stay” has been on so many compilations lately. The song is almost a decade old at this point!

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Gal Mama Paradise Vol. 0
Release Date: 2/10/10
Price: 1900 yen

Yay! New Kei song! Even better, it appears that “Plastic Heart” will be an original song and not an anime cover. Unfortunately, the rest of the album isn’t so new, composed mostly of repeats from Victor’s back catalogue. Some of the songs are listed as “GM Edits,” but it’s unlikely that they’ve been changed in any significant way.

Oh, and it has “Stay” by Wendy Phillips. Sigh.

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Speed Revolution Vol. 3
Release Date: 12/21/09

The third volume in Saifam’s series of Speed compilations albums. It’s only 7 bucks at Amazon MP3, whereas Vol. 1 was $8 and Vol. 2 was $9. It’s also up on iTunes and some other sites, but is strangely absent from Juno. This is pretty much worth it for “Fire Burning” alone.

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In Da Name of Love (Single)
Artist: Ray & Anita
Release Date: 1/22/10

A trio of remixes have been released and are available at Dance-Tunes. Unfortunately, none of them are particularly exciting. You can judge for yourself by listening to the remixes on YouTube:

The official video is also out:

Via The 2 Unlimited.

Move That Body 2010 (Single)
Artist: Look Twice
Release Date: ???

Look Twice featured prominently on the early Dancemania albums and were notable for their female vocalist, Veronica Larsson, better known as half of Smile.dk. After Veronica left for greener pastures, the remaining members continued with a different sound before calling it quits in 2001. One of the original members, Patrick Wincent, is reviving the Look Twice name in 2010 with a remake of one of my favorite songs off their Happy Hour album, “Move That Body.” The new female vocalist pales in comparison to Veronica, but I do like the new sound. You can listen to a short sample of the song on their official MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/looktwice1

And keep an eye out on their website for more news in the future: http://www.looktwice.se/Look_Twice/LOOK_TWICE_-The_Official_Site.html

Make Up Collection 2010
Artist: Smile.dk
Release Date: 2010

KDJ Eurodance Ltd. have a new interview up with Smile.dk with lots of interesting tidbits. First of all, they’ve announced that Party Around the World will finally see a release in China and Japan this year. They list their Japanese label as Dreamusic Japan, who are best known for their Super Anime Remix compilations. There’s no set release date for the Japanese edition just yet.

Most interesting of all, however, is official confirmation of a new album in 2010! The long-rumored remix album is apparently still in the works, and is tentatively titled “Make Up Collection 2010.” According to the interview the album will feature remakes of their biggest hits as well as new songs. S&K announced ages ago that they were collaborating with the Smile.dk team, so hopefully we’ll see that come to fruition. I’m also hoping Almighty return with another great remix.

So, what songs do you want to see remade? I’m sure we’ll see most, if not all, of the DDR songs (Butterfly, Boys, Mr. Wonderful, etc.), but I’d also like for them to tackle the lesser-known tracks. I’ve always been partial to the oft-overlooked “Happy in Love.” “Love & Devotion” is another old favorite that’s just begging for a remix. From Golden Sky, I’d like to see “Maybe” given a dance mix.

Via Bubblegum Dancer.

Sakura, Saku Koro ni. (Single)
Release Date: 1/27/10
Price: 952 yen

The third single from singer Mai Kotone, who has contributed numerous tracks to the Anime*Dance series. Her first single, Dreamscape* was limited to 1,000 copies and sold out immediately. Her second single, Masterpiece, had a slightler larger print run at 1,500 copies but also quickly sold out. This single will be limited to only 2,500 copies. It doesn’t appear that CDJapan will be stocking this CD, and the only place that’s listing it is Amazon. However, even they are listing it as unavailable.

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House Flavor R&B ~The Premium~
Release Date: 2/3/10
Price: 2095 yen

More house-flavored R&B from FARM Records.

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Up Beat! ~Weekend Story~ mixed by Neuron Attack
Release Date: 2/3/10
Price: 2286 yen

The second release in the Up Beat! series, following last January’s Love Strings. A fairly interesting selection of songs.

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Psychedelic Lover 08
Release Date: 2/3/10
Price: 2381 yen

Psychedelic Lover 08 will serve up the latest psychedelic trance hits, including covers of “I Gotta Feeling” and “Love Is Gone.”

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Anime House Project ~Moe Selection Vol. 1~
Release Date: 12/22/09
Price: 1905 yen

Huh, didn’t expect this to be another Vocaloid compilation. Looks like this willl be similarly themed to Quake’s “Speed Anime Trance Best Ecstasy.” In other words, remixes of Bishoujo and Eroge themes.

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The Best of Cover Vocal Star
Release Date: 1/27/10
Price: 1905 yen

There are a handful of new tracks, but as expected it’s mostly repeats.

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