MEI SEMONES @ THE GARAGE, LONDON

It was a Wednesday night with Z for Mei Semones at The Garage and I think this show caught me at the perfect coordinates on the trajectory of knowing, having only been introduced to Semones’ slacker-jazz three days prior.

Rarely have I been part of an audience so overcome with anticipation as on this 24th night of September. From the outset, the subtle contrasts in Semones’ music manifested themselves visually through dualling strings players, one clad with shades, the other donning prescription spectacles. The Brooklyn-based artist released her debut album, Animaru (Japanese for animal) in May of this year, and was ably backed by the aforementioned double strings, bass and drums. As stated, her music straddles a slacker indie and jazz, but such a meticulous guitar virtuoso is served an injustice to be pinned within 100 square miles of slacker town. Her vocal delivery and song structure lean towards the nonchalant twang of Hartzman and Indigo De Souza. But Semones’ songs teeter and canter with a fairytale breeze, never settling on a concrete style and always keeping listeners on their metaphorical and literal toesies.

Mei Semones’ blend of guttural wrath and jazz precision is best exemplified through defiant I can do what I want where her gentle lullabies flicker between English and Japanese, with her voice shadowing the undulating journey of violin/ola. This was followed by Norwegian Shag, whose gentle musings end on the unforgettable couplet “there’s nothing I miss / except the way we played”. For a slice of virtuosic musicianship, listen to Rat with Wings and stay for one of the slickest bass solos I have been fortunate enough to witness in Inaka which summoned involuntary yelps from the crowd.

As you can see, her output is not easily summarised, with late set Kodoku underscoring a softer side to her writing. During this song I admit that my mind drifted, not through lack but abundance of inspiration. I was not the snoozysnaurus in this moment. I looked forward to being in Wales, to wearing my new three wheel drive hat, to getting more tattoos, to laughing and gallivanting with my friends and loved ones.

As the 90 minute set neared its close, it became clear that Mei Semones plays with a whimsical precision that even the most practised of prodigies can only aspire to. The audience was left confused when songs would swirl towards a finish, only to be lovingly put to sleep by a guitar/vocal run stopping off at all stations between here and F sharp. There is a wave of vitality which beats through the core of Semones’ songs, which straddles assuredness and ingenuity in a manner similar to the seminal Fiona Apple.

I wonder if this is the most names I’ve dropped in a gig review. I can put this down to not truly being able to do Semones’ music justice with the fairy words that I knit together in my Tommy brain. Perhaps she does best with her own words in Zarigani where she’s concedes “I love you like my guitar / I love you like no other”.

I saw a dog with ears the same length as its whole head on the train home. I’ve been dreaming of Mexico. The cool air feels good.