Tasseomancy (band)
| Tasseomancy | |
|---|---|
 Tasseomancy sisters Romy and Sari Lightman | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | experimental |
| Labels | Youth Club Records, Hype Lighter, Out of This Spark, Turf Records |
| Associated acts | Timber Timbre, Austra |
| Website |
tasseomancymusic |
| Members | |
Tasseomancy is a Canadian experimental band from Toronto. Originally formed in Halifax, Nova Scotia and centered on twin sisters Sari and Romy Lightman, the project started life under the moniker Ghost Bees. The group now includes members Johnny Spence on keyboards and Evan Cartwright on percussion, with the sound moving in a more experimental and art pop oriented direction, including flute and steel pan instrumentation.[1] Born and raised in Toronto, the Lightman twins moved to Halifax to attend university and began performing there[2] but are now based in Toronto and Montreal.
The duo released their debut EP Tasseomancy on April 8, 2008, via Youth Club Records. Its cover is a photograph of the sisters' great-great grandmother Clara Chernos, a Russian Jewish tea-leaf reader who moved to Canada in the 19th century during the Russian pogroms.[3] The pair toured extensively in support of the record, including shows in the UK and Europe.
As the Ghost Bees project developed, new sounds and influences not heard on the original EP began to be incorporated, prompting a name change to Tasseomancy in 2010.[4] The twins recorded their debut full-length under the new name that year, produced by fellow Toronto-based musicians Taylor Kirk and Simon Trottier of the band Timber Timbre. They released a 7" single on friend Diamond Rings' boutique label Hype Lighter, and began performing in friend Katie Stelmanis' electronic outfit Austra as touring backing singers.[5]
The full-length debut album Ulalume was released on Out of this Spark/Turf Records in August 2011, followed by an EP in 2013.[6] More recently, the band released a second album, Palm Wine Revisited, on Toronto DIY label Healing Power Records[7] and toured the US with Braids.[8]
Discography
- Tasseomancy (2008)
- Ulalume (Out of This Spark / Turf, 2011)
- Braid. Wind Is Coming (2013)
- Palm Wine Revisited (2015)
- Do Easy (2016)
References
- ↑ Portals, 2015
- ↑ Ghost Bees Don't Fight Like Tegan and Sara, Chart, April 18, 2008
- ↑ Ghost Bees, The Coast, April 10, 2008
- ↑ Ghost Bees Change Name to Tasseomancy, Release Timber Timbre-produced Single Exclaim!, September 27, 2010
- ↑ "Concert preview: Austra thrives on touring". Edmonton Journal, October 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Tasseomancy Prep Cassette EP Ahead of Upcoming Full-Length, Share New Song". Exclaim!, October 17, 2013.
- ↑ ". Gorilla Vs. Bear, February 16, 2015.
- ↑ "Concert preview: Austra thrives on touring". The Fader, September 24, 2015.