We Speak Music
Brandes ‘The Distance Between Dreams’ – Echoes of the Past, Sounds of Now
It’s not every day a former MP drops one of the most soul-stirring debut albums of the year, but Peter Bradley, now performing under the name Brandes, defies expectations at every turn.
The Distance Between Dreams, is a quiet triumph—lyrically rich, musically sparse where it needs to be, and emotionally weighty without being overwrought. It’s the kind of record that creeps up on you, then lingers.
There’s a deliberate rawness here. On “Please Don’t Call”, Brandes navigates the wreckage of a lost relationship with the weary grace of Leonard Cohen, while “Like A Dagger” pulses with an almost Nick Drake-like fragility. Meanwhile, “From The Higher Ground” injects some electricity, both sonically and ideologically, into the album’s center.
But it’s “Song for Mordecai” that elevates this project to something timeless. Blending oud, sagat, and other Middle Eastern instruments with a lyrical narrative that spans centuries, it’s an ode to the Jewish experience, but also to endurance, solidarity, and self-knowledge.
There’s no filler here—just finely-wrought songs from a man who’s seen life from every angle. Brandes isn’t here to perform; he’s here to reveal.
We Speak Music
Naomi Aguilera casts her spell with her new single BB ILY
Two years ago, Naomi Aguilera walked onto my radar with EGO, an infectious soulful pop debut that made it impossible not to move. Fast forward to her debut EP Mosaïques, and it was clear she wasn’t just passing through. Personal, colorful, rooted in her Spanish heritage & Brussels upbringing, it even earned her a spot as Apple Music Benelux’s Up Next artist!
Now she’s back with BB ILY, marking the start of a new era. The bilingual single — French and English — is built around one of the most universal human experiences: that special connection that doesn’t need translation. Where EGO invited you to forget your ex on the dancefloor, BB ILY pulls you somewhere more intimate: with sultry beats courtesy of Turana, it’s a dance where gestures, whispers, sighs and the sound of a voice matters more than the words that come out of it… It’s sensual, a little mystical, and entirely her own.
First taste of Naomi Aguilera’s upcoming project Ojalá, due in 2027, it feels effortlessly catchy. This is the kind of track that casts its spell quietly, with interesting and unexpected rhythmic shifts in the verses, and a delicious chorus that lodges itself in your head before you even notice. By the time you do, it’s too late. But you won’t find me complaining about it!
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