Performed on an 80-year-old Steinway grand piano, the latest album from pianist Karen Salicath Jamali, Angel Pollination, features songs inspired by – and guided by – angels. And by angelic nature, Jamali received this music through dreams, translating each spiritual, musical message into 11 hopeful, slightly lamenting piano pieces. Does Angel Pollination – which describes specific angels and their unique healing energies – truly ring of the divine? Let’s hit the highlights:
The first track, “Angel Calling,” sets the tone for the rest of Angel Pollination – it offers rich lower arpeggios, twinkling notes above, and…an overall sense of grief? Loss? Perhaps the aching human heart before finding peaceful angelic light? And the piano features space-giving sustain with perhaps a touch of organic-sounding reverb.
Before continuing, I want to mention the piano’s clarity and blissfully natural sound; this is the result of legendary mastering engineer Maria Triana. Having worked on music from Britney Spears to Bob Dylan, her skills at enhancing the final mix are world-renowned, and once again on audible display.
Now, where were we?
Moving through tracks two and three – “Angel Jofiel (The Angel of Wisdom)” and “Angel Sabrael (The Angel of Miracles)” – I’m discovering these 11 songs aren’t necessarily independent pieces, but continuations of themes introduced in “Angel Calling.” Things do change, but more noticeably on “Angel Aura,” “Angel of Hope,” and with more trepidatiously joyful autonomy, “Angel Anael – The Angel of Love.” In fact, with its glowing beauty and emotional brevity, this might be my favorite piece.
Closing with “Angel Raguel (The Angel of Harmony and Justice),” I sense acceptance; a glowing, peaceful emittance from on high; a surrender, or perhaps the discovery of being wonderful simply by being. This is another more uplifting piece that, while evoking a strand of trepidation, remains unwavering in its bestowment of heart-swelling grace.
But…is it good?
Sure, you could label this “New Age,” or “Music for Relaxation,” or even “Classical,” but these labels are limiting, and therefore, a tad ungracious. Angel Pollination is certainly those things, but so much more: it’s a voice in the dark; a fear in the heart leading to something forever fearless; a light on the soul when the body dims. Angel Pollination is a spiritual means to rejuvenation, and Karen Salicath Jamali simply divines the healing notes from dreams to keys.
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BELOW: Listen to Angel Pollination (or Angel “Pullination,” depending on what platform you’re using) and check out Karen Salicath Jamali on SoundCloud, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Please support Karen Salicath Jamali by visiting her website and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing her music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
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