Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

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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Techno Pop*Anime
Release Date: 12/3/08
Price: 2381 yen

Two-disc set from EMI featuring filter house, technopop, and trance covers of popular (not to mention overused) anime themes. I was hoping that it would feature tracks from Dancemania or Trance Paradise, but that doesn’t seem to be the case after all.

That said, Techno Pop*Anime still has a Dancemania connection. Kei and Yu=>Ka, both previously featured on the Hime Trance series, will be doing the vocals for a few of the songs. Ventura and Quiqman will also return with Kayoco, Ryo Utasato and Yoko Kobayashi (from Anime Speed 1 and 2) doing vocals.

Disc 1 will be a nonstop mix while the second, bonus disc features instrumental and a cappella versions . Not bad for 2381 yen. It’s just a shame they didn’t make this Dancemania presents Techno Pop*Anime. 🙁

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Mega Trance Speed
Release Date: 12/3/08
Price: 2095 yen

A slightly updated track list has been released. Despite the title, it appears FARM will also be drawing heavily from their Love Para series.

Jenny Rom’s “Happy Toyboys” will also be showing up after its out-of-place appearance on Mega Trance 05. EMI own the rights to the existing speed remix, so I wonder if FARM will license it or just commission a new mix?

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Super Best Trance 10 ~The Best~
Release Date: 1/7/09
Price: 2427 yen

To recap, SBT -The Best- came out after the first four releases (SBT I-IV). SBT Request Countdown came out after another three releases (SBT V-VII). And now SBT 10 ~The Best~ will be coming out after only two releases (SBT 08 and 09). At this rate SBT 11 will be another best-of release!

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Exit Trance presents Tokusatsu Trance
Release Date: 1/7/09
Price: 1905 yen

Now we’re talkin’! Tokusatsu is the Japanese term for “special effects” and is generally used to refer to movies or films that make use of SFX. For example, Godzilla, Power Rangers, Ultraman, and Masked Rider are considered tokusatsu. Non-Japanese shows such as Knight Rider and even Thunderbirds can also be classified as tokusatu.

Basically, this is SFX Trance.

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Exit Trance presents UmaUma Dekiru Trance o Tsukutte Mita 3 – Samune de Yoyuu de Shita
Release Date: 1/7/09
Price: 1905 yen

Just what the world needed: another remix “Caramelldansen”! This third release in the UmaUma Trance series features even more songs made popular by Nico Nico Douga.

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Exit Trance × Ita G presents Itasha Trance
Release Date: 12/17/08
Price: 2667 yen

A quick search for “itasha” reveals that it means a car plastered with anime decals. Ita G is a magazine devoted to the hobby, and Exit Trance have teamed up with them to present a compilation that’s basically just another excuse to repeat “Caramelldansen” and other anime tracks.

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Exit Trance presents Speed Anime Trance Complete Best
Release Date: 12/17/08
Price: 2667 yen (Regular Edition) or 2857 yen (Limited Edition)

Sigh. It’s been only 16 months since the first Speed Anime Trance Best and they’re already coming out with a best-of release. Speed Anime Trance Complete Best comes in two flavors: limited and regular. They’ll have the same track lists, but the limited edition comes with a figure made by Duel Maid.

01. Triangular / Maki
02. Iteza*Gogo Kuji Don’t be late / Maki
03. O2 ~Oh Two~ / Nine
04. Akatsuki no Kuruma / Camry
05. Joint / Maki
06. Red fraction / Florence
07. Tamashii no Refrain / Yurie
08. Shichiten Hakki*Shijou Shugi / Yurie
09. Naraku no Hana / Yurie
10. Koi no Mikuru Densetsu / Ma15
11. Yuukyou Seishunka / Koneko Project
12. Komm, susser Tod ~ Amaiki Shiyo, Kitare / Florence
13. Motteke! Sailor Fuku / Knee Socks
14. Hare Hare Yukai / Ma15
15. God Knows… / Keiko
16. Butter-fly / Nine
17. Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni / chum

Pre-order the limited edition or the regular edition at CDJapan.

Exit Trance presents Speed Anime Trance Best 5
Release Date: 11/19/08
Price: 1905 yen

Interestingly, Speed Anime Trance Best 5 marks the first time that the musicians are credited along with the vocalists. Ryu*, N.O.-SYO, and B.U.S. are just a few of the familiar names that are contributing to this fifth release in the SATB series.

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Exit Trance presents Aerodynamic Best
Release Date: 11/5/08
Price: 1905 yen

Fifth release in the Aerodynamic series mixed by DJ Murauchi. I think there are one or two new tracks, but for the most part it’s repeats from the previous releases, as expected.

Aerodynamic Official Site

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Exit Trance presents Akachan Trance with Rokubou
Release Date: 11/5/08
Price: 2000 yen

Yeah, this is weird. Once again, “akachan” translates to “baby,” so this is basically Exit Trance presents Baby Trance. All of the songs are typical children’s songs in Japan.

Rokubou, by the way, is the weird deer baby on the cover. I’m not entirely sure what its significance is, though if I had to guess it’s probably a popular character on a children’s TV show.

Final list after the jump.

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Mega Trance Speed
Release Date: 12/3/08
Price: 2095 yen

An early track list has already been released, and it’s a whopper. Early list and analysis after the jump.

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Mega Trance Speed
Release Date: 12/3/08
Price: 2095 yen

The Speed revolution continues with FARM’s Mega Trance series being the latest to join the bandwagon. The only confirmed songs so far are Tsukasa’s “Prologue” (try to guess which remix) and “Ima Kono Toki Dake” from the Shin Yoshimune Soundtrack.

Since this is FARM, also expect repeats from the various Anime*Dance CDs that they’ve released in recent months.

Of course, they wouldn’t name it Mega Trance Speed unless it had some connection to the Mega Trance series. Hopefully we’ll see some Speed remixes of popular Mega Trance songs.

Exit Trance presents Gakkou Trance 3 Jigenme
Release Date: 12/3/08
Price: 1905 yen

Also known as Exit Trance presents School Trance 3rd Period. I don’t recognize any of the songs except for “Scarborough Fair.” I never thought I’d see that remade as trance, but then again I never thought I’d see Lullaby Trance.

01. Phoenix
02. Katari Aou
03. Haru ni
04. Yogisha
05. Sonomama no Kimi de
06. Jaane
07. Maou
08. Scarborough Fair

Pre-order at CDJapan.