Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

Dance Dance Revolution 2nd MIX Original Soundtrack presented by Dancemania
Release Date: 11/9/11 ? 11/30/11
Price: 3619 yen (2 CD+DVD Version) or 3048 yen (2 CD Only Version)

Update (11/7/11): Track lengths have been released, and it appears that the new bonus tracks won’t be DDR-sized edits. Sadly, “Brilliant 2U” gets a ridiculously short edit. 🙁 Speaking of which, Mieya reports that DJ Command will be handling the “Brilliant 2U” remix, while kors k will be doing the “Paranoia” remix.

Bonus Tracks
39. [2:12] Keep On Movin (Y&Co. DJ Boss remix) / N.M.R.
40. [5:11] Put Your Faith in Me (DA’s Twinkly Disco Remix) / Uzi-Lay
41. [3:12] Trip Machine (xac nanoglide mix) / De-Sire
42. [2:11] Brilliant 2U (AKBK Mix) / Naoki
43. [4:14] Paranoia (kskst mix) / 180
44. [2:43] Love Is the Power -Re:born-

The official Dancemania website has also been updated with info on the 2nd MIX OST. Apparently all of the old tracks have been digitally remastered. As for the DVD, it will include special performances by “charisma” player, Zio.

Read the rest of this entry »

SQ Chips
Release Date: 9/21/11
Price: 1800 yen

Who knew that one of the year’s best dance albums would be a chiptune album from Square Enix? SQ Chips brings together some of Japan’s top talent to produce chiptune versions of classic themes from Squaresoft games. Artists like DJ OMKT, Sexy-Synthesizer and Another Infinity take on Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy and Seiken Densetsu. It’s like reliving my childhood. Q_Q Order from Village/Vanguard for a special bonus mini-album containing 6 exclusive tracks. Visit the official website for samples and artist commentary.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hatsune Miku Dance Remix vol. 1
Release Date: 12/7/11
Price: 1886 yen

New Vocaloid dance compilation series from Victor Japan. Features new dance remixes of popular Vocaloid songs. Remix artists include Rocketman and Sexy-Synthesizers, among others. Visit the official website for more details.

Read the rest of this entry »

Moshi Moshi (Single)
Artist: Smile.dk
Release Date: 2011

It’s been a while since the last Smile.dk update. For those not following their Facebook account, Makeup Collection has been delayed due to Cecilia’s pregnancy (Congratulations!), but the duo have since announced that the first single off the album will be released soon on iTunes. Titled “Moshi Moshi,” it seems like it will be another Japan-themed song. Just, please, don’t let the word “butterfly” be in it.

Still no word on when the album will be released, but their record label has mentioned that in addition to remakes of their greatest hits there’ll also be 8 new songs. Looking forward to it!

K-Pop Generation
Release Date: 9/7/11 ? 10/5/11
Price: 1600 yen

Previously known as K-Pop Cover Compilation. This one comes from D-Topia, the same label behind Bukkomi Gachi Renchan Mix ~Age Oto Euro~. Listed artists are the original ones.

Read the rest of this entry »

J-Pop Cover Densetsu IV
Release Date: 11/9/11
Price: 1905 yen

Fourth release in FARM’s hugely popular J-Pop cover series mixed by DJ Fumi*Yeah! I’m looking forward to “Kibun Jojo” and “Romance no Kamisama” the most.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Best of K-Pop Densetsu ~Master Covers~
Release Date: 9/21/11
Price: 1905 yen

Hmm, another K-Pop cover compi. Tracks are attributed to Hime*Matsuri.

Read the rest of this entry »

Forever Songs -Brand New Remixes-
Artist: Rina Aiuchi
Release Date: 9/28/11
Price: 2381 yen

New remixes of songs by the recently retired Rina Aiuchi. Akiba Koubou producers are heavily featured, but there are also Vocaloid producers and other top acts such as Remo-Con and Ram Rider. The album is also available digitally on iTunes Japan for 1800 yen.

Read the rest of this entry »

Age mix ~All Genre Best~
Release Date: 9/21/11
Price: 1905 yen

Update (9/28/11): For some reason this sold ridiculously well, with almost 10,000 copies sold after a week of release. FARM have also uploaded a CM on YouTube:

Read the rest of this entry »

Good Morning Violin Dance played by NAOrchestra
Artist: NAOrchestra
Release Date: 9/22/11
Price: 1886 yen

Classical songs infused with a light dance beat. Violin performed by Naoko Ishibashi. Songs arranged by DJ Dragon and DJ Uraken.

Read the rest of this entry »

Dance Dance Revolution 2nd MIX Original Soundtrack presented by Dancemania
Release Date: 11/9/11 ? 11/30/11
Price: 3619 yen (2 CD+DVD Version) or 3048 yen (2 CD Only Version)

Update (9/15/11): It’s only been a few days since this was announced and it’s already been delayed to the end of November. The price for the CD+DVD set has also been reduced from 3790 yen to 3619 yen.

Read the rest of this entry »

Francfranc presents Starlight Xmas Party
Release Date: 11/9/11
Price: 2381 yen

Another Christmas dance cover album from Francfranc, following last year’s Snow Crystal -The Best of Christmas Party Mix-.

Read the rest of this entry »

Francfranc’s Best Beautiful Covers -Fly High Megamix-
Release Date: 9/7/11
Price: 2381 yen

The latest CD in Francfranc’s Best series. Francfranc is an interior design company in Japan, and apparently they release music CDs for some reason. Mixed by DJ Fumi*Yeah! and also features two new songs from him. Comes in a fake fur pouch.

Read the rest of this entry »

Ping-Pong Dash (Single)
Artist: Doki Doki Dream Campus
Release Date: 1/12/11
Price: 952 yen

Fourth single from FARM’s new idol group.

CDJapan don’t seem to be carrying it, but you can order it from Amazon Japan or HMV Japan.

Read the rest of this entry »

As reported on Bemanistyle, the next release in the Dance Dance Revolution series, DDR X3, will feature a Dance Dance Revolution 2nd MIX mode. Rather than simply emulating 2nd MIX, the game will feature 2nd MIX on the X3 engine so you can enjoy it for the first time in HD. Obviously it wouldn’t be 2nd MIX without the licensed tracks, so Konami have teamed up with EMI for the first time since 2006 to include Dancemania tracks on DDR. Presumably all 2nd MIX tracks will be present so we can once again relive the glory of the 90s.

Why 2nd MIX? Without a doubt, 2nd MIX represented the height of popularity for both DDR and Dancemania. The soundtrack, which is scheduled to be re-released by EMI this November, sold an astounding 550,000+ copies. By comparison, 3rd MIX sold less than half that at only 200,000 sold.

Meanwhile, Dancemania Sparkle has been selling relatively well, reaching as high as 16 on the Oricon daily charts. There’s definitely an appetite for 90s music out there, so let’s hope we see more Dancemania and DDR releases in the future.