Bay Area musician and producer Tom Relling has released a brand new album titled Peace in Love. Released via Shaky Records, the album offers a rich slice of rock and roll, combined with elements of other genres such as psychedelic rock and Americana.
By Jane Howkins
Tom steps up to the plate on Peace in Love, as confident songwriting and effortless musicianship are the name of the game here. This is west coast rock and roll done in the best way possible – it feels both delightfully nostalgic and thoroughly fresh all at once, making for a deeply satisfying listen from start to finish. Secret is the perfect opener, storming out of the door with an infectious guitar riff, hooking you into Tom’s world straight away. There’s a proper California feel to the track too – particularly in regards to the way Tom uses his vocals and the backing harmonies. This is a cracking song that paves the way brilliantly for the rest of the album.
Full Moon is a little moodier, pairing a pulsating bassline with a series of spacey guitar licks that add a dreamy feel to the record. It’s a slow-burner but one that rewards patience, building up towards a satisfying instrumental crescendo towards the end. Dream in Disguise picks up the pace again with a faster beat, laid out nicely against the 70s rock guitar lick. There is very much a 70s retro feel here, which combines nicely with the contemporary indie rock sound Tom also integrates into his sound.
Moment is more of a contemplative number, although it never slows the tempo down too much. The chorus has a big singalong feel to it, letting the vocals breathe nicely over the top of the acoustic guitar and piano. Queen of the Scene is another tune with a retro flavour, feeling like a proper strut of a song with its tongue-in-cheek lyrics. It’s jampacked full of bluesy guitar riffs and a catchy old school rhythm – the organ is a nice touch too!
Summer is up next, and true to its title, it’s another song dedicated to bringing pure warmth to Peace in Love. The pace is really fast here, sounding almost like a punk rock track on the verses, due to the palm-muted guitars. The chorus is a little repetitive at times, but it’s still catchy enough to enjoy. Given 2 U injects a little dose of soul and classic rock back into the album’s second half, relying on tight, syncopated beats and expressive lead guitar work that never sounds too much.
You Took My Love (I Want It Back) is one of the most dynamic songs on Peace in Love (and that’s saying something!), bringing a punchy rhythm section and a gritty vocal delivery to the forefront of the music. There’s a slight edge here too, adding a little attitude to this killer record. The 1 opens with the sound of a live audience talking, before the grungy guitar line kicks in, reminding me a little of the 90s movement on the verses. It’s yet another interesting sound for Tom to add to his bowstring, showing that there is something here for just about everyone! There’s a really cool guitar solo towards the end that I loved too.
Finally, we come to Over the River, an acoustic piece that closes the record in a pretty manner. It’s an atmospheric finale that builds slowly over the course of four and a half minutes, using reflective sounding lyrics and a simple acoustic melody to create a deeply cathartic send-off that ties Peace in Love together.
After several listens through, it’s clear that Peace in Love is a vibrant and beautifully crafted album that highlights Tom Relling’s natural knack for melody and groove. I love the way he’s managed to fuse a vintage rock sound with a more modern alt-rock/indie-rock sensibility, creating a sound that is both grounding and uplifting – all at once. Personally, I would say that Peace in Love is the the ideal soundtrack for sunny drives or quiet evening listens on a dark night, as it’s a warm and soulful release that confirms Relling’s place in the modern music industry.
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