Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

Summer Rising EP
Release Date: 5/6/13
Price: 800 yen

Wow, EMI are really pushing this Funkot thing hard, with another digital Funkot EP released this May, following January’s Funkot Anthem EP. Both releases tie into the upcoming CD, Hyper Funkot.

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Enka Speed
Release Date: 5/29/13
Price: 1905 yen

Update (5/7/13): Cover art is out! I have no idea what a bus (RV?) has to do with Enka. The cover does look like it’s by Mega Graphics, though it’s disappointing they’re not using the old, familiar SPEED logo.

I’ve also listed the original BPMs of the presumed 3 repeats on the album. The repeats originally ranged from 144-160 BPM. Needless to say, I really hope they rearrange them. Hell, I’ll settle for just increasing the tempo, but no way in hell should the last song on a Speed album be only 160 BPM.

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Funkot Anthem EP
Release Date: 1/7/13
Price: 1886 yen

An EP featuring full versions of songs from EMI’s upcoming Hyper Funkot compilation. Available on iTunes Japan.

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Hyper Funkot ~ Chousoku Dance Trax (Hyper Funkot – Hi Speed Dance Trax)
Release Date: 6/19/13
Price: 1886 yen

EMI’s first Funkot (Indonesian house/happy hardcore) album will features tracks from prominent Funkot artists, including DJ Jet Baron, shisotex, and KazuyaP.

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Enka Speed
Release Date: 5/29/13
Price: 1905 yen

Update (4/24/13): It’s official! Enka Speed is being listed as a “Dancemania presents” release, meaning that it will be the first Dancemania Speed release since 2007’s Happy Speed, and the first to be released under EMI Records Japan/Universal. To celebrate this momentous occasion, I’ll be running a contest, with prizes ranging from Disko Warp downloads to iTunes/Amazon/JunoDownload/KingBeat credits. I’m still deciding on details, but keep an eye out in the near future for more information, or feel free to comment one what kind of prizes you’d like to see.

Still no details on who will be producing the album, though it’s confirmed that there are 20 tracks scheduled.

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EDM ~Electronic Dance Madness~ 4
Release Date: 6/5/13
Price: 2190 yen

Early list is out, and EMI have already defaulted to repeat mode. “Titanium” is a straight up repeat, even though it’s Che’Nelle on vocals instead of Sia. “Don’t You Worry Child” and “Save the World” also make return appearances, albeit in remixed form. Coldplay’s “Paradise” also shows up again with a different remix. Of course, the list is still early, so hopefully the final list ditches the repeats.

Interesting that Coldplay and Kylie are still present despite the sale of Parlophone to Warner Music. Either the sale just hasn’t been finalized, or it doesn’t affect licensing deals in Japan. And with the exception of Rihanna (ugh), so far there isn’t much in the way of Universal.

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Kaji ga 100-bai Hakadoru High Tension Song Best (Top 20 Cheer Up Songs (House Keeping Edition))
Release Date: 5/29/13
Price: 1905 yen

The track list has been revealed for this upcoming “House Keeping” compilation, and it looks like EMI are making good use of the Universal catalogue. The original digital release was all EMI tracks, but the physical version is half EMI, half Universal.

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Kaji ga 100-bai Hakadoru High Tension Song Best
Release Date: 5/29/13
Price: 1905 yen

When Universal took over EMI I thought it would be the death knell for EMI compilations, but somehow they’re releasing them more than ever. The digital version of this CD was released back in December. I have no idea why they waited 6 months to release the physical CD, though I’m assuming the CD version will have more than the 16 tracks that the digital version had.

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Enka Speed
Release Date: 5/29/13
Price: 1905 yen

I…what? Huh? Is this real life? In late May, EMI will release a new compilation titled, “Enka Speed.” Now, keep in mind that it’s not yet confirmed that this will be a Dancemania release, but after Speed Buyuuden no theme would surprise me. Enka is a style of Japanese pop ballads that’s primarily popular among older generations. In other words, it’s the complete opposite of Speed, so it’ll be interesting to see how they combine the different styles. If this is indeed a Dancemania release, then hopefully it’s produced by Saifam or Ventura, and isn’t just a bunch of pitched up repeats from Akiba Koubou like those abominable Utatte Mita Speed releases.

Pre-order at CDJapan.

Hyper Funkot ~ Chousoku Dance Tracks
Release Date: 6/19/13
Price: 1886 yen

Speed returns to EMI in the form of…funkot? EMI’s newest compilation features funkot, or Indonesian happy hardcore. There’s a good chance DJ Jet Baron will be mixing and selecting this compilation, as he’s currently living in Japan and has collaborated with EMI in the past.

Pre-order at CDJapan.

EDM ~Electronic Dance Madness~ 4
Release Date: 6/5/13
Price: 2190 yen

Universal’s acquisition of EMI Music Japan (now EMI Records Japan) is now complete, and it looks like EMI will continue to operate as a subsidiary. As such, EDM 4’s release will arrive on schedule this June, though it still remains to be seen how the sale of various EMI assets to Warner Music will affect which artists will appear on EDM. It’s also highly likely that many Universal artists will begin appearing more often on EDM.

Pre-order at CDJapan.

EDM Compilation 3
Release Date: 3/27/13
Price: 900 yen

Full versions of songs from EDM 2. 14 tracks instead of the usual 13. Available in iTunes Japan.

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Drive ga 100-bai Tanoshiku Naru 90s Best
Release Date: 1/30/13 ? 2/27/13 ? 3/20/13
Price: 1886 yen

The usual fare from Smile.dk, Me & My, MC Hammer, Bellini, and more. Also available on iTunes Japan for 900 yen.

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Drive ga 100-bai Tanoshiku Naru 80s Best
Release Date: 1/30/13 ? 2/27/13 ? 3/20/13
Price: 1886 yen

Pretty standard set of 80s tracks that Dancemania fans have seen countless times. Judging by the track lengths, this won’t be a non-stop mix. Also available on iTunes Japan for 900 yen.

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EDM ~Electronic Dance Madness~ 3
Release Date: 3/13/13 ? 3/20/13
Price: 2190 yen

The third release in the EDM series was delayed a week to March 20. Expect EDM hits from David Guetta, Deadmau5, Moby, Calvin Harris, and…Duran Duran?! I wish Tomo Hirata would choose some more recent songs, though. I’m sure EMI force him to choose from their catalogue, but there’s really no reason to have “Teenage Dream” on a 2013 album. -_-

On a related note, EMI Music Japan were recently acquired by Universal Japan as part of Universal’s global acquisition of EMI. It’ll be very interesting to see how the acquisition will affect EMI’s compilations in the future. At best, it means they’ll be able to draw on Universal’s large catalogue of artists. At worst, they’ll neglect EMI altogether. 🙁

Update: An interview with Tomo Hirata confirms that EDM 4 is already in the works.

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