Brandes – the musical alias of author and Labour MP Peter Bradley – has released his highly anticipated debut album, The Distance Between Dreams. Brandes’s musical evolution is as profound and deeply personal as his distinguished past.

Having crafted a name for himself in the political sphere and with his acclaimed book The Last Train – A Family History of the Final Solution (2022), Peter Bradley, as Brandes, embarks on a deeply reflective and emotive musical journey. The Distance Between Dreams, explores the raw complexities of love, loss, and human connections through a collection of meticulously crafted songs. His music is imbued with the same honesty, depth, and historical resonance that defined his political and literary pursuits.

The name Brandes holds particular significance for Peter Bradley. Reclaimed from his family’s heritage lost during the Holocaust, it is a tribute to his roots and the tragic history that shaped his identity. Brandes’s music is an act of reclamation—of both personal history and artistic expression.

The album’s musical style reflects a rich tapestry of influences including Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, and John Lennon. Brandes’s deeply reflective lyrics are complemented by sparse, haunting melodies, from the folk/spoken word style of his highly personal early singles to the indie-rock influence in tracks like the politically-inspired ‘From The Higher Ground’. The tracks combine elements of sombre introspection, intimate storytelling, and a profound connection to his own background and history.

Notable Tracks:

‘Please Don’t Call’ – The album’s debut single is a poignant meditation on the agonizing end of an affair. The song alternates between plaintive verses and a cascading chorus, enhanced by strings and Hammond organ. With echoes of Cohen and Mitchell, this track is unforgettable for its lyrical honesty and emotional weight.

‘Like A Danger’ – A deeply autobiographical song about the painful dissolution of a relationship, this track features intimate confessional lyrics with both acoustic and electric guitar accompaniment.

‘From The Higher Ground’ – A sharp, clear-eyed reflection on the state of the world, this indie-rock anthem delivers a questioning, almost existential message, in the tradition of Springsteen and Dylan.

‘Siri’s Song’ – With a hauntingly delicate arrangement of acoustic guitar, this song is a poetic portrait of a woman who remains forever out of reach, a fleeting presence both ethereal and unattainable.

Brandes’s shift from politics to writing and music represents an evolution of his storytelling ability, as he has transitioned from public service to the deeply personal realm of songwriting and the novel on which he is currently engaged as a follow-up to his non-fiction work. The album’s themes intertwine Bradley’s historical consciousness with universal emotions, making it not just a personal reflection, but a shared experience for anyone who has ever grappled with love, loss, and the passage of time.

The focus track ‘Song for Mordecai’ draws inspiration from George Eliot’s groundbreaking novel Daniel Deronda (1876), which was ahead of its time in its empathetic portrayal of Jewish characters. The song, features a range of near and middle eastern instruments including Nafir, Oud, Doumbek, Kopuz and Sagat, capturing a poignant dialogue between Mordecai, a dying Jewish visionary, and Daniel, a young English aristocrat who embarks on a transformative journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. The narrative delves into the themes of tragedy and resilience within the Jewish experience, while also exploring the universal struggle for freedom and the power of shared values in the face of adversity. With a historical backdrop, the song reflects Daniel’s dark premonition of the sorrow that lies ahead for the Jewish people, yet it also conveys a message of hope, illustrating that by remaining true to our principles and collective purpose, freedom is never entirely out of reach.

Peter Bradley, reflecting on his new musical identity, says, “My creative life has always been important to me, but until now, it had been pushed aside by other priorities: career, politics, family. Now, I’m able to devote my time and energy to writing and music and I feel very fortunate to have that opportunity. I hope my songs will be judged simply on their merits and on what they mean to those who hear them.”

The Distance Between Dreams, is an album that transcends its individual tracks, offering listeners a reflection of the human condition through the lens of personal history. With its deeply resonating rawness, Brandes’s music will leave an indelible mark on all who listen.