Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2010

Courtesy of A-Sketch

This debut mini-album clocks in at a scant six songs, but it’s clear from the first note what these boys are all about. In terms of both style and composition, the group is influenced by US acts like Ben Folds; as with that trio, Weaver is composed of piano, bass and drums, with “ooh-ooh” choruses that bring to mind tracks such as “Zak and Sara.” But Weaver’s music also shares elements with J-pop/rock groups such as Flumpool (their A-Sketch labelmates), positioning them as Japanese representatives of the relatively unmined piano-rock genre. Pianist/vocalist Yuji Sugimoto certainly has the skills to back up his ambitions. He plays with abandon, even using his fists during a particularly passionate moment on the opening track, “Toki Doki Sekai.” Drummer Toru Kawabe’s lyrics provide a welcome dash of whimsy, especially on “2 Jigen Ginga” (2-D Milky Way). All in all, Tapestry is a solid first effort from a group that we expect to hear a lot more from.