This newest release from Djilia Phralengo is simply breath-taking. It can be said that packaging can raise a CD above the rest and the packaging for this CD is phenomenal. It immediately begins evoking a mood that the music on the CD comes right in and completes.

The album bills itself as a fusion vibrant gypsy and early renaissance music, but one can easily see that this description is simply selling this album short. There are numerous sounds that one can compare this music to but none are a complete match. This music can only be described as rich, vibrant, and wholly original.

The first track on the CD is "Intro - Evolution". My only complaint is that it was too short, I know I certainly wanted more of it. The song is rich, deep and a little dark. Kicking off the album with this track certainly grabs the listener's attention and holds it.   

Along the lines of something more traditional there is "Through the Market Square". The song starts out with a very traditional sound, and certainly wouldn't be out of place at any faire or festival. When electric guitar comes into the mix though, this becomes something very special. 

The title track though, is something very special and conjures up so much imagery that one might best enjoy listening to it in a darkened room. The mood of this song seems distinctly Middle Eastern and it merely needs and image of endless sands to be whole and perfect.

This album is flawless. From start to finish it is a joy to listen to. It goes on a musical journey of musical styles and influences so wide and varied that I'm hard pressed to even identify them all. If you are a music lover, this is certainly the CD for you. "Oracle" will certainly appeal to fans of Middle Eastern, gypsy, and renaissance music as well as appealing to fans of more contemporary styles (such as "Blackmore's Night").  

At $9.99 with free shipping, this is a must have for any collection.