Spotlight on Pagan Music

A weekly feature highlighting the best music from Pagan, Pagan – influenced, and occult artists. You can hear many of these artists on my weekly radio show and podcast, or you can check out the annual “Darker Shade of Pagan” music special available for download online.

RHEA’S OBSESSION

Sue Hutton of Rhea’s Obsession

Band Bio:
Rhea’s Obsession is the bewitching collaboration between two musicians who come from two very different creative backgrounds. Rhea’s Obsession is a Canadian act that works at bringing the extremes of music together in one band. On one end is Sue Hutton, who has an extensive background in Indo-Celtic-Bulgarian style vocals and world percussion; on the other is Jim Field, who comes from a background of hard core and experimental music. Together they produce a surprisingly harmonious and carefully crafted style of song writing that has entranced listeners throughout North America.

Rhea’s Obsession web site.
Rhea’s Obsession MySpace page.

Song download:
Sample clip of “Mortal Ground”
Sample clip of “Between Earth and Sky”

Their song “Cicely” appears on the 5th annual “Darker Shade of Pagan” special available for download, here.

Their song “Memento Mori” appears on my Samhain radio special available for download, here.

Reviews:
“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!” – Losing Today

“This is music to listen to, though some of the re-mixes are definitely danceable. This duo makes music somewhere on the borders between ethnic, ethereal and goth. Inspired by bands like Hedningarna, Bel Canto, Einsturzende Neubauten, Sepultura, Swans and Switchblade Symphony, you are bound to hear something interesting. Their music is like wind and water. Just as unpredictable and just as soothing. It is warm and cold, soft and hard and is always urging you to listen.” – Moving Hands

“It is a bizzare notion that a band could simultaneously score on both the goth-industrial and new age charts, but the fact that Rhea’s Obsession has done just that hints at how impressive their music is. This project was initiated by Sue Hutton and Jim Field, who, by combining their individual backgrounds, created a heady musical blend that touches on both ancient tradition and modern innovation.” – Splendid

My Two Cents:
After a long silence in which I feared the band had broken up, Rhea’s Obsession re-emerges with plans for a new CD entitled “Walk on Fire” to be released sometime this year. This prospect excites me to no end since Rhea’s is one of the first bands to lead me down the path of exploring underground Pagan music. Their ultra-modern fusion of world rhythms, electronic music, and rock is as fresh now as when they started back in the 90s. “Between Earth and Sky” melts my Pagan heart like few other songs can (it also works great on the dance floor). A band to watch, and I dare say, a band to emulate.

Further Reading:
Interview with Rhea’s Obsession.

Tags: Neopaganism