Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

Saifam Speed – February/March 2012
Artist: Various Artists

Another bunch of new tracks from Speed Records. “Shake It Up” is a cover of The Cars song, not the Selena Gomez one. “Heartbreaker” is a cover of the Pat Benatar song. “I’ve Done Everything for You” is a cover of the Sammy Hagar/Rick Springfield song. “The Middle” is a cover of the Jimmy Eat World song.

SPE182 – [4:21] Shake It Up (Factory Speed mix) / Speedmaster
SPE183 – [4:21] Heartbreaker (Factory Speed remix) / Speedogang
SPE184 – [4:26] I’ve Done Everything For You (The Factory Team Speed remix) / Speedogang
SPE185 – [4:11] The Middle (The Factory Speed mix) / Speedogang

Also out in March is a new 2012 update of “Bang! Ready to Go,” this time remixed by J-Mi & Midi-D of United Forces. It’s a decent take on the song, but it’s hard to top the energy of the original. Hmm, I wonder if they’ll be updating any other Happy Paradise songs…

DAN19056 – [5:42] Bang! Ready to Go (J-Mi & Midi-D 2K12 Mix) / Speedogang

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”. There are also at least two new songs planned, so the album won’t be a complete waste.

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Akiba Koubou presents Utatte Mita Collection Tsukareta Otoko
Artist: Tsukareta Otoko
Release Date: 3/17/12
Price: 952 yen

Fifth wave of Utatte Mita singles from Akiba Koubou. This one features Tsukareta Otoko. Surprisingly, it’s mostly new material.

The single is currently available exclusively at Akiba Koubou Festa tour stops.

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Remix Best
Artist: Sex Machineguns
Release Date: 4/18/12
Price: 2667 yen

A new Sex Machineguns remix album produced by Akiba Koubou. Sex Machineguns are a speed metal band who have been active since 1983. This special remix CD will feature remixes of 11 of their biggest hits. Since AKBK are involved I’m assuming they’ll be eurobeat remixes. It seems AKBK will be working closely with SMG, as lead singer Anchang will be re-recording vocals for the album.

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Akiba Koubou presents Utatte Mita Collection Chachako
Artist: Chachako
Release Date: 3/17/12
Price: 952 yen

Fifth wave of Utatte Mita singles from Akiba Koubou. This one features Chachako and is all repeats.

The single is currently available exclusively at Akiba Koubou Festa tour stops.

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Koi Euro Best
Release Date: 3/21/12
Price: 1900 yen

Producers have been revealed, and it’s mostly valle blanco, with some Beat Charger, Ovrar, Tks (Rayto), and DJ Command thrown in. Akiba Koubou have also put up a digest of songs on YouTube.

This honestly isn’t as bad as I thought it would be, especially compared to the lackluster Kiwami Euro Best. 7 repeats (or 12 if you include resings) isn’t too bad, and the fact that they stayed away from the usual Anime covers was a good choice. I really wish they had went with new Nagisa tracks instead of using songs from 3 years ago, though. Now that I think about it, lately Nagisa has been shut out of the latest Akiba Koubou releases. Hopefully she’s just busy working on a second album.

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Akiba Koubou presents Utatte Mita Collection Aomofu
Artist: Aomofu
Release Date: 3/17/12
Price: 952 yen

Fifth wave of Utatte Mita singles from Akiba Koubou. This one features Aomofu and mostly consists of resings. This will be the third time that “Renai Circulation” has appeared on one of these singles.

The single is currently available exclusively at Akiba Koubou Festa tour stops.

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Utattemita J-Pop
Release Date: 3/7/12 ? 3/21/12
Price: 1905 yen

Utaite take on J-Pop classics. The track list is mostly composed of songs taken straight from J-Pop Extra Beat Densetsu and the first two Geki Atsu! Drama Euro releases.

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Akiba Koubou presents Utatte Mita Collection Ask
Artist: Ask
Release Date: 3/17/12
Price: 952 yen

Fifth wave of Utatte Mita singles from Akiba Koubou. This one features Ask and has three new songs.

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Utattemita Anison
Release Date: 3/7/12 ? 3/21/12
Price: 1905 yen

Uggh, based on the producers of each track it doesn’t look like there’ll be any new arrangements, much less any new songs. The first 8 tracks appear to be taken straight from Anim80s, while the remaining tracks are from previous AKBK eurobeat albums. Very disappointing. It’s also odd that they’re not branding either Utattemita release as part of the Dancemania series. The only bright side is that some of the Anim80s repeats will get longer edits.

The album will be available on Amazon Japan’s download service as well as others, but the digital version is a non-stop mix like the CD.

For those wondering, “Nazo no Jinbutsu K” is better known to Hime Trance fans as Kei. It’s just the pseudonym she uses for singing on Nico Nico.

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Akiba Koubou presents Utatte Mita Collection Imaokasan, Bouto, Keitan
Artist: Imaokasan, Bouto, Keitan
Release Date: 3/4/12
Price: 952 yen

It’s Akiba Koubou week here at Dancemania EX! There have been a lot of new Akiba Koubou releases lately, so it’s time to catch up on them. This special single from Akiba Koubou features songs from the odotte mita trio, Imaokasan, Bouto and Keitan. Whereas utatte mita refers to amateur singing, odotte mita refers to amateur dancing. So apparently Imaokasan, Bouto, Keitan can sing too. o_O

The single is currently available exclusively at Akiba Koubou Festa tour stops.

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Haru Iro Portrait
Artist: Shamuon
Release Date: 3/21/12
Price: 1905 yen

First solo album from utaite, Shamuon. Features duets with Soraru and Mi-chan. Bonus items include a strap, mouse pad, and clear file. Retailer-exclusive presents include bromides, stationery sets, smartphone stickers, postcards, and talk CDs, among others.

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Last Color
Artist: SCL Project (natsuP) feat. VanaN’Ice (Camui Gackpo, Kaito, Kagamine Len)
Release Date: 3/21/12
Price: 1905 yen

The last album from SCL Project (natsuP) feat. VanaN’Ice (composed of Camui Gackpo, Kaito, Kagamine Len). Bonuses include a rubber keychain, B2-size poster, official fan club member’s card, and clear file.

Retailer-exclusive presents include bromides, wrist bands, can badges, LED straps, and a pass case. Animate have the best bonus, however, with a special DVD and a box to hold the DVD as well as the CD album.

Animate and Toro no Ana will also be selling “Last Live Pamphlets” which will memorialize VanaN’Ice. The pamphlet is over 200 pages and costs 2000 yen.

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Nana Mitani Golden Best -Vocalo Kyoku o Utatte Mita-
Artist: Nana Mitani
Release Date: 3/14/12
Price: 2190 yen

First album from Nana Mitani, most famous for her cover of “Luka Luka Night Fever.” The track list consists of lots of Vocaloid covers, including every “Night” song that samfree has ever done. That includes his latest song, “Ia Ia*Night of Desire.”

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Super Eurobeat presents Super Hatsune Beat vol. 1 powered by DIVA Arcade (CD+DVD)
Release Date: 3/14/12
Price: 2800 yen

This March will see the release of Super Hatsune Beat vol. 1, based on a Nico Nico Douga video that was uploaded in 2007. Odd that Avex would choose to cash in on it 5 years later o_O Anyway, the first six tracks on the CD are taken straight from the Nico Nico video. Those are followed by 5 full-length tracks from Yuuyu P. Bonus tracks include a new remix by SCP and the granddaddy of vocaloid euro, “Luka Luka Night Fever.”

The album will come with a DVD featuring a PV from Sega’s Project DIVA Arcade as well as the original Super Hatsune Beat vol. 1 music video.

First-press copies come in a special cardboard sleeve with the art on the left. The CD booklet will have the art on the right, which is a throwback to the original video. Retailer-exclusive bonuses include an A3 poster from Animate, a clear file from Tora no Ana, or an LED light keychain from Wonder Goo. Visit the official website for more info.

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