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In Greek mythology Rhea is the daughter of the Sun and the Earth. This image alone suffices to describe the music of the Canadian Sue Hutton and Jim Field, she with her Indo-Celtic-Bulgarian vocal style, while he with a hard-core and experimental musical background. Their first musical meeting took place in 1995 recording the sound track of an experimental dance film called 'Tabulae Anatomacae Sex', whose tribal percussions and esoteric vocals created the musical style that the band would come to be identified by. The attention this drew led them to record their first album, 'Initiation', that was well received on the Canadian scene as an alternative mix of new age, goth-industrial and experimental. 'Between Earth and Sky' is their first work for Metropolis records and it sees the two musicians, apparently both far now from their respective musical horizons, mature even further. Sue Hutton's voice at times seems like a nightingale trapped in a piston engine, percussive and obsessive; rather than creating a meanacing mood, the vocals become a celestial dwelling place. Cunningly scattered ethnic reminiscences place Rhea's Obsession closer to artists like Dead Can Dance; likewise their elusive pursuit of mysticism that apparently born of matter, elevates itself to pure spirit. Music that really is the offspring of the Earth and the Sun! One piece of advice only: while listening to the wonderful final track 'Breaththrough' forget the sun and enjoy the darkness.
I.M.
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