Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

It’s been a while since since the last one, but I’m hoping to make this a more regular feature in the future. Today the spotlight is on my current obsession, Daiki × ZK. This duo comprising DJ Daiki and Ace Closer have captured my attention with their addictive electro/house/trance remixes of pop hits, and I think they’re worthy of your attention, too. Check out the feature for some biographical info and a discography.

http://www.dancemania-ex.com/blog/artist-spotlight/daiki-×-zk/

Edit: It looks like R&B Boutique -in the party- 2nd Floor, which I posted about yesterday, will see the debut of Daiki × ZK’s cover of “The Lazy Song.”

R&B Boutique -in the party- 2nd Floor mixed by DJ Kenkaida
Release Date: 2/22/12
Price: 1800 yen

Fourth release in FARM’s R&B Boutique series. Once again features a non-stop mix of R&B house songs mixed by DJ Kenkaida.

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Utatte Mita J-Pop
Release Date: 3/7/12
Price: 1905 yen

More repeats from Akiba Koubou. Again, there had better be new arrangements or this’ll be another waste of space. If you didn’t notice, “Ginga Tetsudou 999″ is listed on this as well as the Anison album. Maybe they’ll do both “Ginga Tetsudou 999″ as well as “The Galaxy Express 999.” Or maybe they’ll put the same song on two different albums. :{

Announced utaite include Kouhey, Yuge, Yamadan, Usa and Priko.

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Utatte Mita Anison
Release Date: 3/7/12
Price: 1905 yen

Sigh, here comes “Zankoku” again. Almost all of the tracks announced so far have been covered by Akiba Koubou in the past. At the very least we’ll get some resings, but the description provided to retailers did mention house, techno and trance remixes in addition to the usual euro so perhaps we’ll get new arrangements as well. Announced utaite include Kouhey, Yuge, Yamadan and Usa.

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Diamond ~Celebrity Style Best Mix~
Release Date: 1/18/12
Price: 1695 yen

From the makers of Party Hits R&B House. Mixed by DJ Rina.

Also available digitally on iTunes Japan.

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Utatte Mita J-Pop
Release Date: 3/7/12
Price: 1905 yen

It looks like EMI took a page from Tokuma’s book and will be releasing TWO AKBK CDs on the same day. I think we can officially declare March 7, 2012 as AKBK Day. For those keeping track, March 7 will see the release of 2 Utatte Mita CDs from EMI, 2 Geki Atsu! Drama Euro CDs from Tokuma, and Utatte Mita Best Selection from Full Moon.

Announced utaite include Kouhey, Yuge, Yamadan, Usa and Priko. This release’s theme is J-Pop covers, but I still wouldn’t be surprised if “Sousei” and “Zankoku” appear. So far it’s scheduled to be an 18-song non-stop mix.

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Utatte Mita Anison
Release Date: 3/7/12
Price: 1905 yen

I suppose this should be a bit surprising since they abandoned the Wa Euro Best series, but it seems even EMI can’t escape the Utatte Mita craze. It’s actually not yet confirmed that Akiba Koubou will be handling this release, but the description promises House, Euro, Techno and Trance remixes so it sounds right up AKBK’s alley. Announced utaite include Kouhey, Yuge, Yamadan and Usa. This release’s theme is anime song covers, so don’t be alarmed if “Sousei” and “Zankoku” appear. So far it’s scheduled to be an 18-song non-stop mix.

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House Nation Platinum 2
Release Date: 2/15/12
Price: 2476 yen

Sequel to House Nation Platinum, which was released all the way back in 2009. Odd strategy, releasing a sequel so many years after the first came out. Like the First HN Platinum, this release focuses on chart-topping hits, though at this point some of the tracks are a bit dated.

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Girls Pop R&B ~Party Girl~ mixed by DJ Hiroki
Release Date: 2/24/11
Price: 1800 yen

Sequel to Girls Pop R&B, featuring covers of popular J-Pop and Western Pop songs. Mixed by DJ Hiroki.

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Diamond ~Celebrity Style Best Mix~
Release Date: 1/18/12
Price: 1695 yen

From the makers of Party Hits R&B House. 35 songs in all, mixed by DJ Rina.

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Be Mellow R&B House
Release Date: 12/14/11
Price: 900 yen

Full versions of songs from various FARM R&B House releases. Somehow I’ve been oblivious to the fact that the ZK in Daiki × ZK is and always has been Kazuhisa Hirota, better known to trance fans as Ace Closer. Daiki × ZK have put up lots of preview videos on their official YouTube channel, and I’m absolutely hooked. You can still hear the trance influences in many of the tracks, particularly “Last Friday Night”

Here’s hoping FARM eventually release a Daiki × ZK EP.

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Gaga in the Mix
Release Date: 12/7/11
Price: 1619 yen

Follow-up to FARM’s Gaga in the House album. There are a few repeats from the first album, as well as new licenses from Saifam and Power Music.

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Best Hits 50 Megamix mixed by DJ Fumi*Yeah! & DJ Yu-ki
Release Date: 12/2/11
Price: 1905 yen

Two-disc set featuring 50 popular songs mixed by DJ Fumi*Yeah! and DJ Yu-ki, featuring Fatman Scoop. Tracks are from Aqua Project, Saifam, and Power Music. Unfortunately, it’s exclusive to Tsutaya Records.

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Party Hits ~R&B House~ Best mixed by DJ Hiroki
Release Date: 12/7/11
Price: 1800 yen

The best of Party Hits ~R&B House~. As always, mixed by DJ Hiroki.

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R&B House Party ~Floor Rock Megamix~
Release Date: 12/7/11
Price: 2000 yen

Third release in the R&B House Party series, once again mixed by DJ Fumi*Yeah! I guess they abandoned the House Nation series in favor of this one.

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