Martin Kuiper’s EP "Dreaming Of A Sea Of Time" is a luminous Folk reverie
After announcing his arrival last summer with To Feel Is To Believe, Dutch singer-songwriter Martin Kuiper returns with Dreaming Of A Sea Of Time, the evocative second chapter in a planned trilogy chronicling personal transformation, memory, and the passage of time. It’s a project that feels as literary as it is musical — a carefully crafted folk-rooted collection of songs that bridge the intimate warmth of his debut with the more dynamic, layered sonic palette hinting at what’s to come.
Across five thoughtful tracks, Kuiper dives deep into the themes that have long occupied his work: dreams as both metaphor and mirror, the elusive nature of time, love’s persistent ache, and the quiet, steady healing power of music. What’s remarkable is how much ground he covers in just over 15 minutes — Dreaming Of A Sea Of Time feels as expansive as its title suggests, without ever straying from the raw, human core that defines Kuiper’s sound.
The EP opens with "Dreams," a meditative track that perfectly sets the tone for what follows. Haunting acoustic guitar lines weave through airy synthesizer textures as Kuiper’s voice — weary yet resolute — spills confessional poetry about chasing intangible memories. Multi-instrumentalists Erik Neimeijer and Jim Zwinselman fill out the arrangement with tasteful restraint, letting each chord linger in the space between hope and regret.
The EP’s centerpiece and second track, "Hanging On A Pink Moon," is an unqualified standout — a heartfelt nod to Nick Drake, yet unmistakably Kuiper’s own. His intricate fingerpicking ebbs and flows like waves, carrying lyrics that manage to feel both deeply personal and universally resonant. There’s an exquisite push and pull to the song’s arrangement, building from bare guitar and voice into a gentle storm of strings, synth pads, and Jeroen Hobert’s expressive drum work. The track crests in a moment of sublime clarity, before gently dissolving back into the ether.
Elsewhere, “Baby” stretches the folk framework, introducing layered vocal harmonies and shimmering ambient touches that recall the atmospheric tendencies of late-period Talk Talk and Jeff Buckley’s more ethereal moments. Kuiper’s melodic sensitivity remains his greatest asset — even when textures swirl and arrangements swell, his melodies anchor the listener in something warm, immediate, and true.
What sets Dreaming Of A Sea Of Time apart isn’t just its lovely arrangements or its deft folk craftsmanship, though both are abundant here. It’s the feeling of genuine emotional inquiry — that each note, each lyric, is a carefully chosen artifact from a life deeply considered. It’s music shaped by dusk-lit rooms, endless conversations, and the private rituals of a songwriter who understands the gravity of a well-placed word.
As the second chapter in Martin Kuiper’s unfolding trilogy, Dreaming Of A Sea Of Time does more than bridge two albums. It expands the scope of his musical world, suggesting that even in the quietest moments, there’s a universe waiting to be uncovered. It’s a beautiful, timeless collection — and it makes the wait for 2026’s Prison Of Modesty feel like a cliffhanger we’re already desperate to resolve.
We can’t wait for more, but in the meantime, give this one a spin and click those links below to follow along for more.
Listen to “Dreaming Of A Sea Of Time”
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