California may seem like an unlikely place to fi nd a Celtic pagan folk band, but the Golden State is home to Joy Shannon and the Beauty Marks, who have released their fi fth self-released studio album, ,The Oracle. Irish musician, songwriter and vocalist Joy Shannon fronts the band, along with her Celtic harp, cello and harmonium. Dark and haunting, Joy Shannons voice is one to drown in. Backed with spooky instrumentals, ,The Oracle offers a wander through a terrifying and pitiful dreamscape. Mournful, musing, and full of gothic romance; this is the soundtrack to every gothic heroines life. Think graveyards, think castles, thick forests, and cliffs overlooking tempestuous seas. But Joys operatic background brings something extra here. Her vocals are controlled, held back, unwavering from perfection. Its like the calm before the storm; a psychosis lying dormant.