Dancemania EX × Trance Paradise

Hime Trance 4
Release Date: 1/27/10
Price: 1886 yen

It’s been a long 2+ years since Hime Trance 3. The wait was more than worth it, however. In addition to new songs from Hime Trance mainstays like Tsukasa, Kei, and Misa (who makes her return after being left off Anime*Mix), we also get brand new Saifam remixes and licensed songs from popular J-Pop artists. It all makes for an extremely satisfying CD that rivals Anime*Mix and perhaps even the first Hime Trance in terms of pure enjoyment.

The last entry in the main series, Hime Trance 3, was full of repeats and songs that weren’t trance. EMI have seemingly learned their lesson, as Hime Trance 4 contains only one true repeat (“Stay,” which was featured on Trance Paradise Best) and one non-trance song (“Miku Miku…”). Another problem with Hime Trance 3 was that it only had one Delaction song, and it was a repeat at that. Hime Trance 4 has four new Delaction songs, which automatically makes it the best album ever.

The bad news is that it’s not selling all that well at the moment. The last HT release, Anime*Mix!, debuted at number 24 on Oricon’s weekly sales chart, but it’s looking like HT4 won’t even break the top 30. Heck, right now Wa Euro Best 2 is outselling Hime Trance 4 on Amazon Japan. EMI actually put some effort into this release, so if you have any interest in seeing the series continue then do consider picking up a copy. It’s available at CDJapan, HMV, Amazon Japan, Yes Asia, and JPopHelp. No word yet on whether a Download Selection will be available, but I’m certainly hoping for it.

Full review after the jump.

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Hime Trance 4
Release Date: 1/27/10
Price: 1886 yen

Preview videos are up! The first video exclusively features a few of the album’s Japanese-language tracks and has some adorable “Jasmine” art. The second video showcases a few other songs, but the sound quality isn’t all that great.

“Miku Miku ni Shite Ageru [Shiteyanyo] (Hime Mix)” sounds a lot like the original mix, which makes me worry that “Boy” won’t really be remixed, either. But they have to remix “Coconut,” right? Right!?

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Sound Drive
Artist: N.O.-SYO
Release Date: 1/19/10
Price: 2.49 USD

Sound Drive is a new mini-album from N.O.-SYO that will be available worldwide. It’s actually already available on 7digital, but you’ll have to wait until January 27 to purchase it on Amazon or iTunes. 7digital is probably the best way to go, however, since you’ll get all 5 tracks in 320k mp3s for only $2.49.

“Swan Lake” sounds like the track from TranceMaster 02, yet the version here is about 15 seconds shorter than the full version.

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Anime Nitro 2 ~ANiRe:MATiON EGGs~
Release Date: 1/27/10
Price: 1905yen

Originally titled Anime Nitro*Itaoto Mix! vol. 2, the CD has since undergone a name change. Many of the artists from the first release make return appearances, including Redalice and kors k. The official website has samples up as well as a preview video.

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Exit Trance presents UmaUma Dekiru Trance wo Tsukutte Mita 7
Release Date: 2/3/10
Price: 1905 yen (Regular Edition) or 3143 yen (Limited Edition)

I think I see at least 4 direct repeats from other Exit Trance series. It also appears that B.U.S. and Acid=Stone Valley will once again be M.I.A..

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Hime Trance 4
Release Date: 1/27/10
Price: 1886 yen

Track lengths have been announced and it looks like most of the tracks got healthy edits. The Lil’B song gets the distinction of being the longest track on the album, though Tsukasa’s “Shin Ai” isn’t far behind. Some songs got the short end of the stick, however. While I’m happy that I’ll only have to endure ~2 minutes of “Santa Maria,” the new remix of “Coconut” is the shortest track on the CD, coming in at a paltry 1:22. Hopefully EMI will release a Download Selection so we can hear full versions of these songs.

It’s still unknown who’ll be doing the “Hime” remixes of “Boy” and “Coconut.” However, Shohei Matsutmoto has been confirmed as the producer of the Gavin and ari tracks. Also, making his Hime Trance debut is the one and only king of Rock-Trance, N.O.-SYO!!! He’s collaborated with Kei for the original song, “Somebody’s Voice.” I know Kei has been itching to sing another original song for a while now, so it’s great to see her get her wish.

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Exit Trance presents Speed Anime Trance Complete Best 2
Release Date: 1/20/10
Price: 2667 yen (Regular Edition) or 2857 yen (Limited Edition)

Just a quick reminder that this comes out next week. It doesn’t look like the track list has changed.

Edit: Quake have a preview video up now: http://anitra.jp/title/comp2.php

Oddly, the preview video has “Kimi Shinitamou Koto Nakare” from SATB 7 as track 14 (shifting everything after by one track) and “Zutto Mitsumeteite (Ryu* Remix)” gone completely. However, the web page still has the old track list up. I’ll update this post when there’s confirmation that the track list has changed.

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Anime Nitro 2 ~ANiRe:MATiON EGGs~
Release Date: 1/27/10
Price: 1905yen

An updated track list has been revealed for Anime Nitro 2. Punk Dirty Channel are back, but the producers of the other tracks aren’t yet known. The list looks pretty solid so far, avoiding the usual anime standards (“Aquarion,” “Zankoku,”). Okay, it does have “Tamashii no Refrain,” but most of the other tracks aren’t too overplayed.

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Pachi*Dance Collection ~Ichi no Mai~
Release Date: 12/16/09
Price: 2000 yen

A new collection of anime theme covers from the makers of P-Trance. It appears to be a digital only release. And yes, it has “Zankoku na Tenshi no These.”

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Psychedelic Rave Best ~Covers~
Release Date: 2/24/10
Price: 2171 yen

A psychedelic trance compilation from Victor Japan. Many of these covers have already been featured on various Buchiage Parance releases.

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Exit Trance presents R25 Speed Anime Trance Best 5
Release Date: 2/17/10
Price: 1905 yen

The R25 series is back after a long hiatus, apparently sans the Ghibli theme. I guess they finally ran out of Ghibli songs to do. The jacket illustration will once again be done by Keiko Sootome.

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Exit Trance presents Denpa Trance
Release Date: 2/17/10
Price: 1905 yen

I have absolutely no idea what denpa is, but it’s the theme of Quake’s latest Exit Trance series. Moe Mania suggests that “Denpa-kei is a certain genre of music, used in anime, hentai and games. It’s often very cute, explicit and sometimes a bit off-putting, depending on who you ask. All in all, it’s very very moe!” So, uhh, yeah. I don’t see how that’s any different than their Ecstasy series. ^^; If I’m understanding it correctly, then the songs will be similar to “Motteke! Sailor Fuku.”

Pre-order at CDJapan.

Exit Trance presents Speed Anime Trance Best The Movie 2
Release Date: 1/6/09
Price: 1905 yen

The follow-up release to SATB The Movie starts the new year off with more popular anime movie themes. The tracks are almost all new except for track 17, “One more time, One more chance,” which previously appeared on UmaUma Trance 4. However, this version will have new vocals from Takanori instead of Nine.

Again, B.U.S. is noticeably absent, no doubt busy working on his album.

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Trance Rave presents Club atom -The Best-
Release Date: 2/10/10
Price: 1900 yen

The CD was originally listed as “Club atom Vol. 5,” but the title has since been changed. This is actually a rather surprising release since Vol. 4 was released way back in 2007. I wonder what would prompt Victor to release another CD in the series after such a long hiatus? CDJapan’s description suggests that the CD will include not only trance, but house as well.

Pre-order at CDJapan.

Black Out
Artist: Overhead Champion
Release Date: 10/28/09
Price: 300 yen

OHC is back with another digital only release. It actually came out in late October but I kept forgetting to post about it. ^^;

Black Out / Overhead Champion

Overhead Champion | MySpace Video

01. [7:11] Black Out (Extended ver.)
02. [3:44] Black Out (Radio Edit)

The single is now available for purchase on iTunes and various other Japanese download services. Keep in mind that Avex still haven’t made the switch to iTunes Plus, so if you grab the single from there you’ll get saddled with DRM and likely a low bit rate as well.