Rhea's Obsession
Encyclopedia
Rhea's Obsession, which takes its name from the Greek
goddess
, Rhea
, is a band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
. Their music mixes several different styles including gothic rock
, darkwave
, and world music
, similar to Dead Can Dance
.
in 1996. Two songs from the album (Cun Lacoudhir and Death by Moonlight) were used in the TV series La Femme Nikita.
In 1998, Rhea's Obsession performed at Convergence
IV, an annual North American gothic festival.
While touring in support of Initiation, Rhea caught the attention of Metropolis Records
, who released Rhea's second album, Between Earth and Sky
, and a reissue of Initiation (called Re:Initiation) in 2001.
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
goddess
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
, Rhea
Rhea (mythology)
Rhea was the Titaness daughter of Uranus, the sky, and Gaia, the earth, in Greek mythology. She was known as "the mother of gods". In earlier traditions, she was strongly associated with Gaia and Cybele, the Great Goddess, and was later seen by the classical Greeks as the mother of the Olympian...
, is a band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Their music mixes several different styles including gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
, darkwave
Darkwave
Dark Wave or darkwave is a music genre that began in the late 1970s, coinciding with the popularity of New Wave and post-punk. Building on those basic principles, dark wave added dark, introspective lyrics and an undertone of sorrow for some bands...
, and world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
, similar to Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
.
Brief history
Rhea's Obsession's first project was the 1995 score for Tabulae Anatomacae Sex, an experimental dance film. After working on scores for television and film, they recorded InitiationInitiation (Rhea's Obsession album)
Rhea's Obsession's debut album, Initiation, was released in 1996 on Spider Records after they had worked on soundtracks for film and television...
in 1996. Two songs from the album (Cun Lacoudhir and Death by Moonlight) were used in the TV series La Femme Nikita.
In 1998, Rhea's Obsession performed at Convergence
Convergence (goth festival)
Convergence is the annual net.goth party run by and for members of the alt.gothic and alt.gothic.fashion newsgroup, and other related Usenet newsgroups. Started in 1995, it is a chance for net.goths and others who normally only meet on the Internet to come together in real life...
IV, an annual North American gothic festival.
While touring in support of Initiation, Rhea caught the attention of Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
, who released Rhea's second album, Between Earth and Sky
Between Earth and Sky
Between Earth and Sky is the second album by Rhea's Obsession. The album features styles of music including gothic rock and darkwave.-Track listing:...
, and a reissue of Initiation (called Re:Initiation) in 2001.
Core members
- Sue Hutton - Vocals, BodhránBodhránThe bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...
and Percussion, Sheet metalSheet metalSheet metal is simply metal formed into thin and flat pieces. It is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and can be cut and bent into a variety of different shapes. Countless everyday objects are constructed of the material...
, MandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, Occasional Programming - Jim Field - Guitars, BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Programming, Percussion, OudOudThe oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
s, SitarSitarThe 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
s
Live members
- Rob Greenway - DrumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s - Syn - KeyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s - Rakesh Tewari - Drums, TablaTablaThe tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
, Percussion - Ed Hanley - Tabla
Discography
- InitiationInitiation (Rhea's Obsession album)Rhea's Obsession's debut album, Initiation, was released in 1996 on Spider Records after they had worked on soundtracks for film and television...
(1996, re-released on Metropolis RecordsMetropolis RecordsMetropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
as Re:Initiation in 2001) - Eclipse: A Collection of Rarities & Music for FilmEclipse: A Collection of Rarities & Music for FilmEclipse was a limited edition release, with 500 numbered copies sold at live shows. It includes music from Rhea's Obsession's early days as well as songs later included on Between Earth and Sky.-Track listing:#"Anila " – 2:41...
(1999, Limited Release—Only 500 copies) - Between Earth and SkyBetween Earth and SkyBetween Earth and Sky is the second album by Rhea's Obsession. The album features styles of music including gothic rock and darkwave.-Track listing:...
(2001)
External links
- Metropolis Records' page
- Rhea's Obsession's Profile on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Sounds of La Femme Nikita