Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

ZIPmania All Best Mix
Release Date: 11/13/13
Price: 2190 yen

Update (11/25/13): A bit of good news for Dancemania fans. ZIPmania All Best Mix managed to snag a spot on the Oricon weekly Top 100, debuting at 97 for the week of its release. It’s far from the days when Dancemania releases routinely broke the Top 20, but when you compare it to VIP X (115), Super Eurobeat Vol. 225 (182), Speed Anime Trance Best 19 (111) or even Dancemania Party (184), it’s a surprisingly solid number. ZIPmania’s companion release, ZIP Hot 100, debuted at 125.

And for those that missed it in the comments, the old Dancemania website has been reproduced on Universal’s site: http://microsites.universal-music.co.jp/dancemania/

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ZIP Hot 100 1993-2013 All Time No. 1 Hits
Release Date: 11/13/13
Price: 2190 yen

This release features songs that have reached the top of the ZIP Hot 100 charts over the past 20 years. Unfortunately, the list skews highly in favor of more recent Universal artists. I think the only EMI artist on the list is Janet Jackson, so I’m not sure how much this will appeal to Dancemania fans. There are 20 full-length tracks plus some talk from ZIP-FM DJs.

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Blue Dragon
Artist: Seiryu
Release Date: 12/25/13
Price: 1905 yen

Santa’s bringing a special present this year for Ryu* fans. Back when Plan 8 was released I speculated that the relatively small number of tracks would mean they would release two Ryu* albums this year, and it ended up being true. Seiryu is the alias that Ryu* uses for 190+ BPM tracks, and Blue Dragon will focus on songs he’s released under the alias as well as his other dragon aliases. Like Plan 8, this album will contain 15 tracks, many of which have previously appeared on various Konami music games.

Bonus items include a cell phone strap, signed seal, pass case, poster, and clear file. The official site is already up with more info.

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Miki Uta 1
Release Date: 12/18/13
Price: 1905 yen

A new album from Vocaloid producer, Mikito P. There seems to be a focus on the next generation of utaite. Bonus items include a character sticker (1 of 16 designs), B2 poster, and clear file.

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Exit Tunes presents Ikemen Voice Paradise 7
Release Date: 12/18/13
Price: 1905 yen

The seventh release in the Ikemen Voice Paradise series, which features pretty boys singing Vocaloid songs. Featured utaite include un:c, kain, and Kool. A bit odd that they’re releasing another entry so soon after the last one. Bonus items includes a cell phone strap (1 of 8 designs), poster, and clear file. Visit the official website for more info.

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Occult Maiden Character Song Album
Release Date: 12/18/13
Price: 2381 yen (CD+DVD Edition) or 1905 yen (CD Only Edition)

A new collaboration between Square Enix and Exit Tunes. Occult Maiden is an iOS/Anrdoid mobile game, and this CD will have characters from the game singing their own themes. Producers include Exit Tunes mainstays like Starving Trancer, YM, and Dead Ball P. Also includes two bonus remixes by DJ Uto and Ryu*. The CD+DVD version includes a DVD with preview videos and commercials. Bonus items include a cell phone strap (1 of 12 designs), poster, clear file, and a serial code for a rare item in the game. Visit the official website for more info.

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Koharu Sakurai presents Exit Tunes Academy -11th Anniversary Special- @20130407 Saitama Super Arena
Release Date: 12/18/13
Price: 4286 yen (Blu-Ray Edition) or 3333 yen (DVD Edition)

The Exit Tunes Academy live tour has been a huge success for Exit Tunes, and this December they’ll be celebrating the 11th anniversary of the Exit Tunes brand with a special DVD/Blu-Ray release featuring footage shot during the performance at Saitama Super Arena. Almost 18,000 people attended the event to watch ETA artists like Mayumi Morinaga, Shamuon, recog and others perform live.

Both the DVD and Blu-Ray releases will come with a cell phone strap, poster, and clear file. You can visit the official website for more info.

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Exit Tunes presents Vocalofuture feat. Hatsune Miku
Release Date: 11/6/13
Price: 1905 yen

Twelfth in the hit series of Vocaloid compilation albums, following Vocarhythm, Vocalostar, Vocalolegend, Vocalogenesis, Vocaloanthems, Vocalonexus, Vocalonation, Vocalocluster, Vocalodream, Vocaloconnection, and Vocalosensation. There will be a bevy of bonuses available, many of which will be limited to first-press copies only. All copies of the CD will have a picture label and cardboard sleeve. Limited bonuses include a cell phone strap and mousepad. If you send in the included survey, you can also receive a clear file and fake credit card. Posters will also be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Other limited bonuses include a pass case (1 of 11 designs), cell phone strap (1 of 11 designs), and IC card sticker. Retailer-exclusive bonuses are also available, ranging from coasters to posters.

Visit the official website for samples and more info.

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Gekkan eta Vol. 06
Release Date: 10/2/13
Price: ??? yen

A new monthly series from Exit Tunes, featuring songs from the Exit Tunes Academy tour. The CDs will only be available for rental at Tsutaya. Visit the official website for more info on the series. Vol. 05 features an exclusive track from ?? (Underbar) × YM.

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Gekkan eta Vol. 05
Release Date: 10/2/13
Price: ??? yen

A new monthly series from Exit Tunes, featuring songs from the Exit Tunes Academy tour. The CDs will only be available for rental at Tsutaya. Visit the official website for more info on the series. Vol. 05 features an exclusive track from recog × Dead Ball P.

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Christmas ga 100-bai Tanoshiku Naru Party Mix
Release Date: 11/5/13 (Original Release: 11/14/12)
Price: 1886 yen

Looks like EMI are re-issuing the Saifam-produced Christmas album from last year, similar to what they used to do with Christmas Speed.

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Best Hits 55 Megamix mixed by DJ Fumi*Yeah! & DJ Yu-ki
Release Date: 8/21/13
Price: 1905 yen

Two-disc set featuring 55 popular songs mixed by DJ Fumi*Yeah! and DJ Yu-ki, featuring Fatman Scoop. Tracks are licensed from Aqua Project and Power Music. Unfortunately, it’s exclusive to Tsutaya Records.

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Halloween Party Tune II
Release Date: 10/9/13
Price: 900 yen

Digital only sequel to last year’s Halloween Party Tune. “Thriller” is probably the only track that qualifies as a Hallowen song. Available on iTunes Japan.

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Dengou Sekka! Anison Cover Mix!!
Release Date: 10/23/13 ? 10/30/13
Price: 1714 yen

Another release in Akiba Koubou’s Anison Cover Mix!! series. I don’t know why, but I have a strange feeling that there’s some sort of theme to this release. Anyway, lots of repeats from AKBK’s back catalogue, but I also spot some new tracks. Most of the new tracks are by Hime Trance queen, Kei.

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Million Dance
Release Date: 10/30/13
Price: 1886 yen

Warner have really been on a dance kick lately. It really warms my heart to see dance back on the forefront after being treated like a bastard child during the ’00s. This compilation is particularly interesting because it mostly eschews mainstream acts in favor of more obscure European artists. It also has a few Japanese artists, like DJ Dirt Flare and Prog5 (Shohei Matsumoto/Heavens Wire).

Don’t ask me what on Earth the title means, though. I just hope there’s a sequel so they can call it Billion Dance.

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