Album Review: Animaru by Mei Semones

There's something I like about it Mei Semones is a name to watch. Existing somewhere between the intersection of Origami Angel and Laufey, her music is cozy, yet expansive and, while expertly crafted, displays a rare level of excitement and curiosity to expand the imagination. Animaru may be billed as a debut, but it's a confident, fully-formed release that contains everything from guitar-noodling dueling scat vocals to math-y stop-starts and sweeping, orchestral swells.

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After doing the rounds on social media while garnering a fierce live reputation, Mei Semones' debut album is a vibrant exploration of life in the city and the beauty that can be found in everyday existence. The quality of 'Animaru' is present from its opening seconds, as 'Dumb Feeling' showcases her unique blend of classical jazz and bossa nova, married with fresh and expressive indie-pop. Mei packs the album full of Coltrane-esque guitar and sonically whimsical vocal licks, which perfectly compliment its slower, more delicate moments of intricacy.

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Mei Semones has rapidly marked herself as a voice to watch with an infectious blend of jazz, indie rock and j-pop. It may be a curious mix but it works surprisingly well. She says her first musical love was Nirvana but had jazz lessons at high school, listening Wayne Shorter and other jazz icons. In addition to a melange of genres, she cuts between English and Japanese with her vocals.

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