Luke Toms – ‘Peace By Myself’ (Island) Released 23/04/07

With the days of the piano-driven power ballad left with Meatloaf long ago, it’s always nice to have a little reminder which actually works. Luke Toms’ new single ‘Peace By Myself’ is a breath of fresh air; it’s not full of frantic guitar work or pummelling bass lines but it does have an uplifting mood throughout which leaves you feeling, well, pretty good! Instrumental arrangements are delightfully simple yet superbly performed, Toms’ vocal soars with a passion rarely seen in today’s mainstream, and the strings which close the song are the perfect end to a well conceived and produced single. This one comes highly recommended.