Search - Rhea's Obsession :: Between Earth and Sky

"You must whisper to the clouds...

Clarissa | Ontario, California | 01/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Move softly on the ground..." ..."Hush now as the wind blows . Willows sway in time . As one we move with the breeze"... "Underneath the starry glow, the earth is spinning slow... Dance with the unknown..."

The first time I ever listened to 'Between Earth and Sky' I remember becoming mesmerized as the melodies washed over and consumed me, which doesn't happen often. It usually takes several replays for me to truly take in the magnitude of any great CD, but with Rhea's Obsession my attention was grabbed instantly and, to this very day, it still won't let go! From "Too Deep" to "Breakthrough" I am gratefully hypnotized by the dark ethereal vox of Sue Hutton (whom can rightfully take position below goth Queen kaRIN) and with the band's exotic dreamscape, which is sure to take full reign on all who dare to step outside the confining walls of mainstream and allow themselves to become blissfully intoxicated. And while their sound may have a distinct industrial feel to it (which is expected of a group signed to the Metropolis label), Rhea's Obsession is hard to classify for songs like "Mahakala" and "Spill Elixir" include world influences while songs like "Spiritual Fear" and "Dreaming Blade" have more of an electronic-rock edge that sets them apart from partner groups like VNV Nation and Clan Of Xymox... Rhea's Obsession may not be the most original act out there but 'Between Earth and Sky' is a must-have for electronic-rock/goth fans that preferably enjoy bands like Collide, Edera, Faith and The Muse, and maybe even Delerium...This is Highly recommended!"

OBSESSED BY RHEA'S OBSESSION !

Mr D. | Cave Creek, Az United States | 09/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Toronto musical duo, Rhea's Obsession, is the brainstorm of foxy (yeah, I know it's dated but I like it) muti-talented Sue Hutton who teamed up with Guitarist Jim Field in 1994 to form the Rhea's Obsession. When performing on stage the duo adds, Dave Klotz on keyboards and Mike Rosenthal on drums. Rhea's Obsesion is the fourth review I've done on a duo and I know of at least 4 or 5 others, so I guess they're the wave of the future. I imagine duos save on expenses, arguments, egos and every other downside of larger groups. Additionally, I guess any income generated would go farther, too. In this day and age of programed music it really doesn't matter how many band members you have, it's the music that matters. An example of this is Trent Reznor whose Nine Inch Nails and Martin Scherinc whose Hollenthon are basically solo operations but certainly sound like a fair sized group. Christopher Morris of Nicodemis also did his debut sans a band but he has since gotten associates. The only trouble is solo and duo acts are not conducive to large elaborate concert appearances but I guess studio musicians could be brought in toward that purpose. BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY I know this is a very overused cliche but I just gotta use it again, "This music is really, very hard to categorize". There I've said it now I will try to categorize it. I read where some have said Rhea's Obsession has Bulgarian and east Indian influences (odd combination). I didn't even know they played music in the former Peoples Workers Paradise of Bulgaria. Whether they do or not and whether Sue Hutton gets her inspiration from there or not, the music is intriguing. It is darkwave, it is exotic, it is gothic, it is new age, it is folk, it is ethnic, it is intoxicating, it is atmospheric, it is ethereal, it is serious music! Did I leave anything out. Oh yeah, It is not pop, it is not alternative, it is not rock, it certainly is not hip hop, it is not redundant, it is not boring and it's not metal! Many of you don't know this but after my beloved progressive metal, I like Folk / New age and between Earth and Sky fits nicely in there, It's not like, but, kind of, is like, Dead can Dance, Delerium, Loreena Mckinnitt, Kidney Thieves, Chandeen, Hungry Lucy, Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Cirque du Soleil. If you were to take an octagon and put each of these bands on a corner and draw a line from each to it's opposite, in the center where all the lines come together is Rhea's Obsession. I have described the five best songs below. "Spiritual Fear" 3:19 is a medium paced Arabic influenced piece with Sue singing in what sounds like a mild echo chamber, while Jim plays an intricate acoustic guitar in the background. "Dreaming Blade" 3:42 a definite industrial feel with pronounced drums and clinks and clanks mixed with violins in the background. Sue sounds a little Shirley Manson-ish on this song. "Nightshade" 3:41 another song with a near east feel which in addition to Sue's captivating voice in duplicate has light congas and a full orchestra backing. probably the best song. "Between Earth and Sky" 5:14 I take it back, this is the best song. Oh heck it's the co-best song. Another enchanting, near east influenced song of a nice easy going pace with heavy electric guitars and Sue again accompanying herself on vocals, much of which is chants. "Mahakala" 5:15 on this one we combine a psychedelic sound with the eastern sound and some male chanting while Jim plays a wicked whining electric guitar in the background. CONCLUSION I wanted to give this Five Stars and it's very, very close. I just felt, while the great songs were marvelous, there were three or four songs that didn't do it for me. Hell, they might do it for you, there not bad. At fiftyeight plus minutes this is a long album, so maybe the standout tracks, standout more and the lesser ones get diminished. Take the iffy tracks out and you have a forty-six minute five star album. Trouble is the other tracks are too good to lose. Quandary!!!!!!"

Wonderfully Evocative. A Dark, Mysterious Journey.

Mr. Fellini | El Paso, Texas United States | 07/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is typical in this day and age to pay little attention to bands who have been given the title of playing "darkwave" music. After all, darkwave or "Gothic" bands have nothing more to offer than solemn, sometimes Satanic outings that feel like dudes in leather trying to connect with the forces of evil through their amps (Electric Hellfire Club, even Marilyn Manson). But Rhea's Obsession proves you cannot judge a band by category, theoritically this band is a goth band, but their music is only gothic in the classical sense, in their sound and lyrics they are a band that strives for something more poetic and atmospheric than simple distortion. "Between Earth And Sky" is a wonderfully evocative album, a little gem of underground rock that mingles and mates with Middle Eastern textures and poetic flavors. Comparisons with Dead Can Dance are not out of order, indeed this band (who appears in the Dead Can Dance tribute album with a great cover of "Mesmerism") evokes the kind of other-worldly vibes Dead Can Dance achieved through their work. Some of the songs such as "Spiritual Fear" experiment a little and add techno flourishes, but not of the dance beat kind, they stand simply as musical brushstrokes. The married couple of vocalist Sue Hutton and guitarist Jim Field are an amazing team, together they create, invoke and bring to life music of the kind we wish more popular bands would experiment with. Take for example the track "Dreaming Blade," the wall of sound is hard rock with Field's guitars, but Hutton's vocals evoke Lisa Gerrard and take us to another place other than just the confines of normal music listening. The album's best cut is "Nightshade," a poetic, hypnotic experience that also boasts a Dead Can Dance vibe but also proves the band as an identity all it's own. Here Sutton's vocals really shine as well as the instrumentals, all combined with some enchanting lyrics create a song of great atmosphere. The song "Between Earth And Sky" is a myth-like little invocation that summons-up the spirit of Jim Morrison and "Spill Elixir" feels like something ancient and mystic. Rhea's Obsession is not an enormously popular band, indeed, this is the kind of group that is discovered by the listener seeking new sounds and flavors and who is willing to search in the underground, beneath the metropolis of MTV and VH1. Rhea's Obsession captures us and for a few songs manages to let us escape, which is what all great music does."