Karen Salicath Jamali’s Dreams of Angels is a transcendent exploration of the divine, inviting us into an ethereal journey of sound and spirituality. Composed intuitively in the stillness of early morning, the 16-track album offers an “energetic embrace of love in sound,” as Karen describes it, manifesting peace, healing, courage, and illumination through her music. Each track is a raw, single-take performance on her 80-year-old Steinway grand piano, capturing the unrefined purity of angelic inspiration. Below is a track-by-track review that reflects on this celestial opus.
1. ArchAngel Metatron (The Angel of Life)
Karen opens the album with ArchAngel Metatron, a luminous tribute to the Angel of Life. The piece is intricate, poised, and deeply resonant, embodying the “spiritualizing divine light” that Metatron represents. Karen notes, “Metatron is the highest, most powerful angel, a guide to humanity. His energy is very high-frequency.” The piece exudes cosmic authenticity, establishing a sublime introduction that feels like an invocation.
2. Angel Gabriel (The Angel of Water)
Angel Gabriel draws us in with minimalist melodies expanding with arpeggios that evoke fluidity and depth. The composition’s melancholic undercurrent gives way to emotional crescendos, mirroring the symbolism of water – life, emotion, and transformation. “Gabriel is the angel of hope and peace,” Karen shares. “His name means ‘God is my strength.’” This track’s emotional pull is reminiscent of classical greats like Beethoven and Chopin, yet uniquely Karen’s own.
3. Angel Gabriel’s Heart
A radiant and optimistic piece, Angel Gabriel’s Heart reflects the Angel of Hope’s compassionate embrace. With a buoyant melody and uplifting harmonies, it aligns beautifully with the heart chakra’s themes of love and empathy. Karen describes it as “a musical portrait of human consciousness, compassion, and divine love.” This track is a spring-like renewal within the album.
4. Angel Jophiel (The Angel of Illumination)
Angel Jophiel ascends with a dynamic interplay of tempo changes and cascading notes. The music’s luminosity mirrors the angel’s role as a guide to enlightenment. Karen explains, “Jophiel illuminates the mind and helps humanity embrace divine beauty and wisdom.” The piece feels like a spiritual awakening, filled with source energy.
5. Angel Uriel (The Angel of Truth)
With a cinematic grandeur, Angel Uriel unveils layers of complexity, embodying the profound journey toward truth. Its intricate opening builds into a dramatic crescendo that evokes revelation. “Uriel gives us the courage to embrace what is true,” Karen says. “His name means ‘The Light of God.’” The composition feels destined for a film that explores life’s most profound questions.
6. Angel Israfil (The Angel of Music)
A serene immersion into the divine connection between music and the cosmos, Angel Israfil glows with sunlight-like warmth. Karen notes, “Israfil embodies the sacred bond between sound and the universe.” The piece has a charismatic radiance, offering a tranquil moment of reflection within the album.
7. Angel Raphael (The Angel of Healing)
A masterwork of emotional ebb and flow, Angel Raphael is cathartic and deeply moving. The healing energy is palpable as the music alternates between melancholia and brightness. “Raphael heals the body and soul,” Karen shares. “He protects and guides with his green light of healing.” This track invites us to connect with our emotional core and may evoke tears!
8. Angel Jophiel (The Angel of Beauty)
Returning to Jophiel, Karen offers an elegant and poetic composition that would feel at home in a period drama like Bridgerton. The piece radiates serene energy and grace. “Jophiel’s beauty and wisdom guide us to see the world through divine love,” Karen explains. The result is an auditory celebration of life’s delicate splendor.
9. Angel Gabriel’s Halo
This celestial piece sparkles with ethereal precision, embodying Gabriel’s essence. Karen describes it as “a musical portrait of hope and peace.” The composition feels like an intimate reflection of divine grace, delicately touching the listener’s soul.
10. Angel Chamuel (The Angel of Love and Peace)
With an intrinsic connection to universal harmony, Angel Chamuel embodies love’s soothing power. Karen describes Chamuel as “a protector of justice, emotions, and balance.” The track’s calm yet powerful tone evokes the possibility of world peace, making it a standout moment in the album.
11. Angel Michael (The Angel of Courage)
Angel Michael channels heroic strength with intricate, cinematic piano work reminiscent of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Karen reflects, “Michael’s light sword cuts through darkness, giving us the courage to continue in life with light.” The composition’s depth and grandeur inspire bravery in us all.
12. Angel Sandalphon (The Angel of Gentleness)
Meditative and contemplative, Angel Sandalphon feels timeless. Karen notes, “Sandalphon’s energy is gentle and musical, teaching true gentleness.” This track offers a moment of quiet introspection, inviting us to embrace serenity.
13. Angel Raziel (The Angel of Clarity)
With poetic depth and sublime etherealism, Angel Raziel captures the angel’s wisdom. The high emotional register and celestial tones feel like a revelation. Karen describes Raziel as “the angel of wisdom and cosmic secrets,” and this track reflects that mystique.
14. White Angel
White Angel, inspired by Karen’s sculpture, is a dynamic and serene piece with elegant tempo shifts. Karen recounts, “This sculpture was made to bring comfort to those who have lost loved ones.” The music carries the same spirit of solace and compassion, a luminous tribute to the angelic realm.
15. Angel Ariel (The Angel of Nature)
Grand and majestic, Angel Ariel celebrates the angel’s guardianship of the natural world. Karen notes, “Ariel inspires humans to care for Mother Earth.” This track’s sweeping melodies evoke landscapes of untouched beauty, a fitting ode to nature’s divinity.
16. Angel Jeramiel (The Angel of Dreams)
The album concludes with Angel Jeramiel, a soothing finale that feels like a peaceful drift into the dreamworld. Karen explains, “Jeramiel is the angel of visions and dreams, bringing divine inspiration.” This meditative piece closes the album with grace, leaving listeners in a state of tranquility.
Dreams of Angels is a deeply spiritual work, uniting raw emotion with divine inspiration. As Karen states, “This album is all about the energy from different angels. It is about peace, compassion, love, light, life, truth, healing, wisdom, and courage.” Each track serves as a portal to the angelic realms, offering a listening experience that is as transformative as it is serene. There are moments where we wanted to cry, and moments where we felt pure bliss from the human experience, but what holds true is that the opus invites us to connect deeply with the universe and reminds us that we are at one with all. This is the power of Karen Salicath Jamali’s Dreams of Angels, a transcendental masterpiece created with God, the artist and a singular, albeit magnificent, musical instrument.