Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

K-Pop Generation II
Release Date: 1/25/12
Price: 1714 yen

Follow-up release to last September’s K-Pop Generation. Produced by X-TRA 7.

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I Love Disko Warp ~ Singles Collection Vol. 3
Release Date: 2/10/12
Price: Name Your Price

I’ve been posting all week about Disko Warp releases that you can’t get at Bandcamp, so for a change here’s something you actually can get there. 😀 The third volume in the I Love Disko Warp series collects their hit singles from the past year. It’s a Bandcamp exclusive, so you can pay what you want for the entire album.

Is that a race queen and gyaru on the cover? Should I be concerned that I even know those terms to begin with?

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P!! Rock Japan Coverpoid Non Stop Mix
Artist: Namidabashi Gakuen Joshi Cover Bu
Release Date: 3/28/12
Price: 1905 yen

This fourth release in the P!! series features covers of J-Rock songs. Not much else known about it yet.

Pre-order at CDJapan.

Disko Warp presents Speedisko Vol. 6
Release Date: 1/18/12
Price: $7.92

The sixth release in the Speedisko series was released just this past January and once again features some great cover art by GoshaDole. Tracks include Disko Warp remixes for guest artists such as J-Mi & Midi-D, LeetStreet Boys, and Moist Towelettes. “Disco Gino” is a pretty damn catchy eurobeat number. I can’t wait to hear the J-Mi & Midi-D version.

Also featured are new arrangements of two songs from the recently released Eurobeat compilation, Eurobeat Forever. “My Love Is Nineteen” is easily the best of the bunch, with some impressive vocals and hilarious lyrics. “Gays Gays Gays” has a more memorable melody, but the vocals are comparatively lifeless.

The Half Polish alias makes a return with a cover of a traditional Polish folk song. The tempo changes in the second half are a bit too sudden for me, though.

Rounding out the album is the excellent Honmax remix of “Text Me Too Much,” which you can also grab from the Text Me Too Much Remix EP at Bandcamp. As has been mentioned all week, Disko Warp releases at Bandcamp are now “Name Your Price,” and there’s no minimum price! However, due to distribution agreements Speedisko 6 is currently only available at Amazon and iTunes.

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P!! Anison Coverpoid Non Stop Mix
Artist: Namidabashi Gakuen Joshi Cover Bu
Release Date: 2/29/12
Price: 1905 yen

So I guess this is a thing now. The first two releases in the series featured dance covers of Idol and J-Pop songs. This third release focuses on anime themes.

Pre-order at CDJapan.

Disko Warp presents Speedisko Vol. 5
Release Date: 9/15/11
Price: $7.92

Speedisko Vol. 5 is probably my favorite in the series, with an excellent set of new tracks and remixes. The lead song is a great dance track from Seattle native, Ian K. I quite like Umi’s vocals, and I assume the starry theme was the inspiration for the cover art.

Disko Warp also managed to do some collaborations with some well-known Japanese DJs. “Hard Rock & Pink Black” from Hime Trance 4 is redone here as a happy hardcore track by Initial P. Meanwhile, DJ Command from Akiba Koubou adds his trademark euro touch to “Werewolf Boyfriend.”

Also of note is Becky’s “Dumb Boys,” which is full of that classic Disko Warp humor and stylistically sounds quite a bit like “Text Me Too Much (The Disko Warp Speed-Dial Remix),” which coincidentally is also on this release.

Again, all Disko Warp releases at Bandcamp are now “Name Your Price,” with no minimum set. However, due to distribution agreements, at the moment Speedisko 5 is only available at Amazon and iTunes.

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Disko Warp presents Speedisko Vol. 4
Release Date: 4/30/11
Price: $7.92

Speedisko Vol. 4 serves up another collection of HiNRG songs for your listening pleasure. Hyper Techno fans can’t go wrong with the techno remix of “Erotic Chemistry.” While I thought earlier Disko Warp forays into the world of Hyper Techno were less successful, the more recent ones have managed to better replicate the sound. Speaking of which, exclusive to Speedisko 4 is the extended version of Lucky Princess’s “Text Me Too Much,” which also features a techno sound.

As mentioned, all Disko Warp releases at Bandcamp are now “Name Your Price,” with no minimum set. However, due to licensing issues, Speedisko Vol. 4 is currently available only at Amazon and iTunes.

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Disko Warp presents Speedisko Vol. 3
Release Date: 1/6/11
Price: $7.92

It’s Disko Warp week here at Dancemania EX! Disko Warp have recently undergone a major change: all Disko Warp releases at Bandcamp are now “Name Your Price,” with no minimum set. If you’ve ever wanted to sample the Disko Warp sound, now’s a great time to do it for little to no cost! If you like what you hear, then do your best to support Pete. The man needs to eat, ya know 😉

There is one small caveat, however. Some singles/albums are no longer available on Bandcamp until distribution agreements end with other distributors (i.e., Amazon, iTunes). When those clear, the songs will be added to Bandcamp. The Speedisko releases are among those affected, so at the moment they’re only available at Amazon and iTunes.

The third release in the Speedisko series has a good amount of variety, with lots of guest artists and remixers. Standout tracks include Ricardo Autobahn’s remix of “I Wanna Be a Ninja” and Pete’s 80’s remix of “What Went Wrong.” I’m also quite fond of the eurobeat remix of “Girl Revolution.”

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Party Anthem Love Drive
Release Date: 2/15/12
Price: 1500 yen

A new R&B House compilation from Preget Music. Mixed by DJ Rina, the female DJ who also recently mixed Diamond ~Celebrity Style Best Mix~.

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Gossip Party! “Spin Out!” Girls Hits Mixxx
Release Date: 2/15/12
Price: 1500 yen

A new, lower-priced spin-off of Manhattan Records’ house-flavored R&B cover series powered by Power Music. Expect covers of songs by Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Alexandra Stan. 35 songs in all. No, I don’t know what those extra x’s are for.

Pre-order at CDJapan.

Pop the Track (Single)
Artist: J-Mi & Midi-D feat. Hanna Stockzell
Price: $2

The spiritual successor of “Top the Charts” from DDR. Apparently Konami wouldn’t allow J-Mi & Midi-D to release “Top the Charts” commercially, but this is a more than adequate substitute. In fact, I think it’s their best work yet. Hanna Stockzell does a marvelous job as usual, but the real star here is the fantastic music production. The synths have a great, brassy sound, and I love the breakdown in the middle of the extended version. Really well done, guys. Disko Warp also contribute a Hyper Techno remix with classic Juliana techno synths.

To be honest, though, I’m not quite sure I understand the lyrics. How exactly does one “pop the track”?

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Growth
Artist: Vic:cess
Release Date: 11/23/11 ? 1/25/12 ? 2/1/12
Price: 1905 yen

Mini-album from the dance pop idol group. Sumijun of Akiba Koubou produced at least one of the songs on their first mini-album, but it’s unknown if AKBK are involved with this release. And really, 2000 yen for only 6 songs?

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Luv Euro 2
Release Date: 2/22/12
Price: 1886 yen

Updated cover art and a likely final list have been revealed. The are 5 new songs out of 18 total. That’s absolutely awful. As much as I want to hear the new DJ Kazma and Kei songs, it’s just not worth treading through the same old repeats.

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Diamond ~Celebrity Style Best Mix~
Release Date: 1/18/12
Price: 1695 yen

From the makers of Party Hits R&B House. Mixed by DJ Rina.

Also available digitally on iTunes Japan.

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Girls Pop R&B ~Party Girl~ mixed by DJ Hiroki
Release Date: 2/24/11
Price: 1800 yen

Sequel to Girls Pop R&B, featuring covers of popular J-Pop and Western Pop songs. Mixed by DJ Hiroki.

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