Now he’s singing, too: The ever-busy drummer Hudson Whitlock, known for his work with Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo, and The Pro-Teens, has found a new outlet for his lyrical and vocal ambitions with his project Brenda. On Bath Time, his emotionally charged, exuberant falsetto soars in true Delfonics fashion over ballad-like cinematic soul arrangements, exploring the oldest pop paradigm of all: the romantic relationship – with just enough room for the occasional wink.
Mostly serious in tone and tinged with melancholy, Whitlock pushes the sound of Melbourne’s instrumental retro-soul scene forward by integrating vocals and saccharine string arrangements into his songs. Unlike the six previous Brenda albums, which he recorded solo and released only via Bandcamp, Bath Time sees him inviting musical friends into the studio. Yet despite the organic band sound, Whitlock makes it clear that, first and foremost, he’s a drummer: the album’s first 54 and final 20 seconds are devoted entirely to the drums.
