Bayonet Records
Mei Semones - Animaru - Import LP Record Limited Edition
Mei Semones - Animaru - Import LP Record Limited Edition
Vinyl Record
Rock
Japanese Rock
September 8, 2025
Will usually ship within 1~5 business days of receiving cleared payment.
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Catalog No.: BR066LP
JAN/ISBN: 850057707458
Number of Discs: 1
Record Size: 12”
Country/Region of Manufacture: Import
Credits:
Mei Semones
Description:
Around the time she was finishing up a degree in jazz guitar from the Berklee College of Music, Mei Semones put together a band made up of classmates and recorded her first EP, Tsukino (2022). It introduced her sophisticated, strings-enhanced take on affectionate indie pop. By the time she made her Bayonet Records debut with her second EP, Kabutomushi, in 2024, she had a regular, collaborative backing band made up of a violist (constant member and strings arranger Noah Leong), violinist, bassist, and drummer, and had strengthened her beguiling sound -- specifically, an indie pop injected with an effortless blend of breezy bossa nova, intricate jazz, and mathy indie rock. Another idiosyncrasy of her music is lyrics that go back and forth between English and Japanese within a song (Semones grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, speaking Japanese with her mother). Arriving less than a year after Kabutomushi, her full-length debut, Animaru ("Animal"), sees Semones again rachet up the complexity of her singular sound and her songcraft. It begins with "Dumb Feeling," an uptempo, indie-inflected bossa tune with the albums first surprise scat break. While a few of the songs here are somewhat confrontational, this one isnt, embracing that weird feeling ("Theres something I like about it"). Later, "Tora Moyo" ("Tiger") is a love song to music and her guitar. It sounds like a possible movie theme from the 60s -- at least until the noodly guitar solo -- as she sweetly sings with a wispy voice made for twee, "My hands are yours/No other use for them/If this isnt love." That song is the perfect setup for the stunning "I Can Do What I Want," a virtuosic showstopper that may have invented the style kawaii prog. There, she establishes a casual confidence thats part of the albums charm, balancing out its more pining moments. Another example of this interplay is the regretful "Rat with Wings," which admits, "Sometimes I miss you still/Even though you were a rat," before firmly declaring, amid orchestral hard rock riffs, that shell never want them back. Elsewhere, "Zarigani" ("Crayfish") is a tribute to non-romantic love, namely hers for her twin sister, and "Donguri" ("Acorns") offers a bit of a breather with a stripped-back arrangement of guitar and upright bass underscoring Semones fantasy of life as a woodland creature. Throughout Animaru, Semones and her band play with dynamics, dramatic pauses, chord voicings, harmonics, and a steady stream of surprises -- the closer is a waltz -- resulting in a memorable debut thats much more likely to delight than challenge. ~ Marcy Donelson
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
**Shipping Carriers**
We ship all orders via **Japan Post**, **DHL**, or **FedEx**, depending on the destination and shipping method selected at checkout.
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**Delivery Time**
- **In-stock items**: Orders are processed and shipped within **51 to 5 business days or 5 to 30 business days** from the date of purchase.
- **Pre-orders**: Items will be shipped within **7 business days** after the official release date.
- **Special order items**: Delivery may be delayed depending on the supplier's stock status. We will contact you if delays exceed the estimated timeframe.
Please note: Delivery times may vary due to customs clearance, weather conditions, postal delays, and holidays. Thank you for your understanding.
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**Shipping Costs**
Shipping costs are calculated automatically at checkout using our shipping rate calculator. Final shipping charges depend on your destination and the total weight of your order.
We currently offer **international shipping** to most countries.
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**Returnsv**
We have a 30-day return policy, which means you have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return.
To be eligible for a return, the product must be unused, unopened (i.e., shrink wrap or manufacturer seal must be intact), and in the same condition as when you received it, including the original packaging.
Customers are responsible for return shipping costs unless the return is due to our error (e.g., defective, damaged, or incorrect item). Please note that we are unable to refund the original shipping charges.
To initiate a return, please contact us at ruryaam@gmail.com. If your return is accepted, we’ll provide you with a return shipping label and detailed instructions. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted.
You can always contact us for any return-related questions at ruryaam@gmail.com.
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**Damages and Issues**
Please inspect your order upon delivery and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged, or incorrect. We will work quickly to resolve the issue.
Return Address: Rury Art & Music Inc., 2-3-3 Minamikoiwa, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan 133-0056
(Please contact us before sending any items.)
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**Non-returnable Items**
Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns for items on sale or gift cards.
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**Exchanges**
To exchange an item, we recommend returning the original item and placing a new order separately after the return is accepted.
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**Refunds**
Once we receive and inspect your returned item, we will notify you of the approval status. If approved, your refund will be processed to your original payment method within 5–10 business days. Please note that your bank or credit card provider may take additional time to post the refund to your account.
