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Exit Tunes presents Futsubamu -Futsudamu ni Utatte Mita-
Artist: ?? (Underbar)
Release Date: 7/18/12
Price: 1905 yen
First album from utaite, ??. Yes, that’s his name. No track list yet, but you can view some of his videos on Nico Nico Douga.
Pre-order at CDJapan.
Exit Tunes presents Megurhythm feat. Megurine Luka
Release Date: 7/18/12
Price: 1905 yen
Megurine Luka finally gets her chance at the spotlight with this, her first solo Exit Tunes album. Announced bonus items include a cell phone strap (1 of 3 varieties), clear file, and B2-size poster.
Obscure Questions
Artist: Pinocchio P
Release Date: 7/4/12
Price: 1905 yen
First major album from vocaloid producer, Pinnochi P. Features his biggest hits like “Kusare Gedou to Chocolate” as well as 3 new songs. Every song features Hatsune Miku on vocals.
Bonus items include a cell phone strap (1 of 3 designs), clear file, and B2 size poster. Samples and more info can be found on the official website.
Exit Tunes presents Ikemen Voice Paradise 4
Release Date: 12/7/11 ? 2/1/12 ? 4/18/12 ? 5/2/12
Price: 1905 yen
Wow, this was originally supposed to be released late last years but was delayed repeatedly. It finally came out this May, though, and features more of your favorite ikemen vocalists including Glutamine, Rib, Nodoame, Shamuon and Sekihan. Also features collaborations between the vocalists.
Bonus items include a cell phone strap, clear file, B2 size poster and a special talk CD featuring Glutamine and Shamuon. Maybe they whisper sweet nothings to each other? Samples and more info can be found on the official website.
Saifam Speed – April 2012
Artist: Various Artists
April’s selection of Speed tracks brings us a pair of 80s movie theme hits as well as a cover of 2 Unlimited’s last single.
SPE186 – [4:41] Surfin’ USA (The Factory Team Speedo mix) / Speedmaster
SPE187 – [3:43] Footloose (The Factory Team Speed mix) / Thomas
SPE188 – [4:34] Jump for Joy (Alternative Planet remix) / Speedmaster
SPE188 – [4:23] Jump for Joy (Alternative Planet hard mix) / Speedmaster
SPE189 – [5:00] Holding Out for a Hero (Factory Speed mix) / Speedogang
Super Ita G Beat
Release Date: 4/28/12
Price: 1905 yen
Wow, Akiba Koubou really went all-out for the Nico Nico Cho Kaigi. This special collaboration with Ita G brings together only the most overexposed AKBK songs of the past 4 years. To be fair, there’s at least one new song: a resing of “Zankoku na Tenshi no These” by D-Angels.
I can’t help but wax nostalgic over the days when Quake used to do weird tie-ups like this.
Iikara Tomato Kue (Single)
Artist: Natsu Aki
Release Date: 4/28/12
Price: 952 yen
Limited-edition debut single from Akiba Koubou’s Idol duo, Natsu Aki, which is composed of Natsuko & Akiko from SDN48.
Yume no Tobira (Single)
Artist: Allover
Release Date: 4/28/12
Price: 952 yen
Limited-edition debut single from Akiba Koubou’s Idol project, Allover. This was available at Nico Nico Cho Kaigi, and will also be sold at Allover live events. The song isn’t quite eurobeat, but don’t be shocked to see a Eurobeat version show up on a future AKBK compilation.
Akiba Koubou presents Utatte Mita Collection Tadanon, Okame, Takuma
Artist: Tadanon, Okame, Takuma
Release Date: 4/28/12
Price: 952 yen
Sixth wave of Utatte Mita singles from Akiba Koubou. This one features the popular odottemita trio composed of Tadanon, Okame, and Takuma. Surprisingly, it’s mostly new material, with “Tamashii no Refrain” being the only repeat/resing. The last 2 tracks are from AKBK newcomer, Beat Charger.
The single was available at Akiba Koubou’s booth at Nico Nico Cho Kaigi, a convention that was held April 28-29. Presumably it’ll also be available on tour stops during the Spring Akiba Koubou Festa.
Nagashima*Jienotsu*Yuichirou -Anison DJ de Ottsu Otsu!-
Release Date: 4/25/12
Price: 1905 yen
Compilation album featuring eurobeat covers of anime themes. Produced by Kickboxer, Yuichirou Nagashima, who is also known for his cosplay. In addition to the usual AKBK repeats, the CD will include his official theme song, which was released as a single a few years ago and is sung by Halko Momoi. Yuichirou himself will be a doing a cover of “Gekitei,” and from the samples it’s clear he’s why he’s an athlete and not a professional singer. There are also two new tracks by Kei and Satsy.
I believe the CD is mixed, but full versions appear to be available on iTunes Japan with the exception of the lead track.
Bring It Ooon! -King of Megahits- mixed by DJ Swing
Release Date: 4/25/12
Price: 1886 yen
From Manhattan Records, the makers of the Gossip Party! series, comes a new compilation with more R&B/House hits. All of the tracks have once again been licensed from Power Music.
Dancehall Lovers J-Covers
Release Date: 4/25/12
Price: 2171 yen
New release in the long-running Dancehall compilation series. This one is notable for jumping on the J-Pop cover bandwagon. Yes, that’s right, if you’ve ever been jonesing for a reggae version of “Zankoku na Tenshi no These,” this is the album for you. To further increase the novelty, it also appears that all of the songs have been translated into English. They used Bentley Jones’s existing English version for “Sunao ni Naretara” but the rest sound like almost direct translations, which results in some awkward lyrics.
Mademoiselle Yulia ~ Neon Spread 3
Release Date: 4/25/12
Price: 2476 yen
The third release in the Neon Spread series. Neon Spread 2 was released way back in 2009, but the success of Mademoiselle Yulia’s album must have reignited interest.
SQ Chips 2
Release Date: 7/25/12
Price: 1800 yen
Who knew that one of last year’s best dance albums would be a chiptune album from Square Enix? Almost a year later, Square-Enix will release SQ Chips 2, once again bringing together some of Japan’s top talent to produce chiptune versions of classic themes from Squaresoft games. Artists like DJ OMKT, Sexy-Synthesizer, and Hige Driver take on even more Squaresoft classics, including themes from Xenogears, Chrono Cross and Live a Live. And although they aren’t explicitly mentioned on the early track list, the teaser website suggests it’ll also have songs from Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy XIII. No FF VI love this time? 🙁
Visit the official website for samples.
Hatsune Rock feat. Hatsune Miku
Release Date: 6/6/12
Price: 2190 yen
EMI’s second venture into the world of Vocaloid compilations. Vocalo Dance didn’t do particularly well, so this time they’re going with a rock theme, similar to FARM’s Vocarock series (the existence of which is probably why EMI avoided naming this Vocalo Rock). I’m not sure if they’ll still market this as part of the Dancemania series, given Vocalo Dance’s performance. A lot of these tracks have appeared on previous compilations, so I hope they’re not making the same mistake of having nothing but repeats again.
All copies will come with a cardboard sleeve and picture-label CD. First-press editions come with a special big coaster and cell phone strap.
DanceMaster | 
05 9th, 2012| 