With Dreams of Angels, composer and pianist Karen Salicath Jamali has crafted a deeply personal and ethereal album that invites listeners into a spiritual sanctuary of sound. This 16-track collection is far more than just an album; it is an intimate passage into the realm of angelic energies, infused with the serenity, healing, and divine wisdom of celestial beings.
Karen Salicath, a visual artist turned composer after a life-changing near-death experience in 2012, captures the rawness of her connection with the divine through pure, unrefined piano compositions. Recorded at dawn on her 80-year-old Steinway grand piano, each piece was captured in a single take, emphasizing spontaneity and authenticity. The minimalist setup—just a Roland recorder and a Neumann microphone—lets the listener experience the music as Karen Salicath herself heard it in those quiet, sacred moments before sunrise.
The result is a truly organic listening experience, one that feels more like a spiritual ritual than a traditional album. Dreams of Angels evokes an almost meditative atmosphere, a steady pulse of reverence for the divine forces that Salicath channels through her keys. From the opening track, “ArcAngel Metraton,” dedicated to the Angel of Life, the album unfolds like a devotional prayer, each composition representing a different angelic presence. “Angel Raphael” speaks to the powerful, healing qualities of the Angel of Healing, while “White Angel” takes on a deeply personal tone, honoring loved ones lost, and further solidifying the sense of connection Salicath shares with the unseen world.
The inspiration for Dreams of Angels runs deep, not just from a musical perspective but from a spiritual one as well. As someone who has been composing intuitively for over a decade, Salicath taps into an ancient wellspring of wisdom, seeking to transmit energies of love, peace, and guidance through each note. Her long, meditative phrases allow space for reflection, inviting listeners into a world where time slows and the barriers between the earthly and celestial realms seem to dissolve.
Tracks like “Angel Sandalphon” exemplify this ethereal soundscape, with its soft, flowing tones that evoke a sense of tranquility. On the other hand, “Angel Michael” builds to a powerful crescendo, channeling the warrior energy of the Archangel Michael with a boldness and triumph that contrasts beautifully with the more subtle pieces. The versatility of the album’s mood is one of its strongest features, guiding the listener through an emotional and spiritual spectrum that spans healing, strength, and surrender.
Of particular note is “White Angel,” which has already earned recognition with two awards from the Charleston International Music Competition. This piece, inspired by Salicath’s own sculpture of the same name, reflects the artist’s deep sense of reverence for those who have passed, further enriching the album with a sense of universal compassion. There’s something profoundly healing in the quiet, vulnerable spaces of Dreams of Angels, and it’s impossible not to feel the tenderness that Salicath infuses into every note.
Although Karen Salicath’s approach to composing is rooted in personal experience, her music transcends the individual and invites a collective sense of connection. The work stands as an energetic embrace of love, as Salicath describes it, a reminder that music can be a vessel for divine healing and insight. This is an album that encourages not just listening but feeling—allowing space for the listener to connect with their own sense of the sacred and perhaps even encounter their own angelic guides.
Mastered by PARMA Recordings, the album sounds as intimate as it was intended, preserving the warmth and texture of each delicate note. The simple, organic recording process also allows for a genuine interaction between the artist, the instrument, and the divine, making the listening experience feel almost like a private moment between Salicath and the angels she channels.
For fans of ambient, classical, or spiritual music, Dreams of Angels is a must-listen. It is music not meant just for the ears but for the soul—transformative, healing, and filled with divine grace. Salicath’s music offers a rare glimpse into a world beyond the tangible, one that will resonate with anyone seeking peace, connection, and a sense of divine presence in the music they listen to.
Karen Salicath Jamali has created an album that is as much an offering as it is a journey—an invitation to experience a divine embrace through the power of sound. It is a deeply introspective album, yet one that carries universal resonance, and Dreams of Angels may just be the soundtrack for anyone seeking a spiritual refuge in a chaotic world.
