Being that Rewind, as the name might suggest, is an album that sees Tiny Fighter re-explore, re-interpret and re-imagine some of their existing songs, it raises a really interesting point. When is a song ever really finished? Just because a song is released and becomes known for having a certain sound or style, does that mean that it has to be locked into that one format for the rest of its existence? And if such songs are going to be given a new lease of life, who better to understand and remodel them than the people who wrote them in the first place?
And to that end, Rewind is a gorgeous collection of chilled, acoustic-driven songs, ones forged of space and luminosity, deftness and delicacy. And whilst the album really came about because of the lack of touring caused by Covid restrictions, it is a most worthy addition to their back catalogue and an exciting and rewarding project for all concerned.
You Said to Me is the perfect opening salvo for such an album, a piano-led slice of sonic beauty, minimal notes dancing gently before the listener and Therese Karlsson’s gorgeously sensual voice becoming the focal point of the moment. There are more upbeat moments, such as with New Century though such a term is relative and even this piece of lulling, lilting loveliness remains wonderfully understated. There is room for a Swedish language version of Happier, Tell Me becomes a dream state pop classic and the title track which take the album to its conclusion, is a perfect slice of hazy and harmonious poised folk-pop.
I guess why Rewind works so well is that what Tiny Fighter has done is boil their existing songs, ones born of indie melodies, pop infectiousness and rock punch, right down to their very essence. But the really clever thing is that they have lost none of the melody and structure which made them so effective in the first place. The result is an album of songs that hang before their audience with gossamer beauty due to the space and delicacy that they have been afforded but which retain the poise and power of their former selves.
