Four months after seaweed soup, SALTNPAPER returns with a 10-song album. Fairy Tales and Fever Dreams sounds like a journal reading. It’s a display of thoughts, emotions, and experiences to the audience.
What I wonder most is the timeline of these songs. When were they written, when were they composed, and when were they arranged. Because I feel like these songs come from a wide range of time. They all have signature elements that SALTNPAPER used throughout each of his releases. But the songs present different emotions and tones.
I like how songs have different types of production. “Morning View” has a full band sound, even though the percussion sounds like it’s programmed. The layered piano melodies support SALTNPAPER’s voice, with the guitars adding polished accents. As a whole, SALTNPAPER brings back nostalgic memories of 2005-2015 indie rock. Depending on the track, you get a folk-forward melody or a return of MYK on “Yesterday.”
That is SALTNPAPER’s strength. His style and tone aren’t an outlier, but he’s created such a strong signature that when you hear his songs, you instantly know it’s him. And Fairy Tales and Fever Dreams tells a consistent narrative while also providing varying song styles. “You to Me” is one of the best songs. There’s nothing to critique here.
The one song that I wish guided an entire EP is “Just Visiting.” The instrumental isn’t something I’ve heard by SALTNPAPER before, and it combines his signature vocal style with a kind of weird instrumental that’s very addictive.
Listening to the album presents a timeless experience. Even though it was released in 2025, this could have been released five years ago and fit in perfectly. Or 10 years from now, I’ll come back and the songs will still sound fresh and new.
Instagram | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music
Written by Chris P for Korean Indie.