photo by Dagmar Sieglinde Patterson
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s selection, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is “Blinding Light” by Seattle band Stephanie from the 2012 album One Glove on Couple Skate Records.
Stephanie has tapped into whatever magical source of cool Seattle’s Cairo scene seems to emanate, but they are venturing into cheerier territory than their counterparts. Their debut One Glove is six songs of 80s/90s fusion that stretches across the spectrum from danceable nu-wave to the early 90s alternative sounds of the Promise Ring. Wil Adams’ passionate vocals and Andrew McKibben’s sultry guitar licks will be enough to seduce you, but should you still need convincing, the variety of tunes on One Glove will keep you busy for more than a few listens.
“Blinding Light” is the bell ringer of the One Glove collection. It’s here we see the band’s energy most in sync and most directional. The volume is maxed out all the way through the track. Drums are pummelling, dual guitars are both set ablaze, and Adams’ voice grows only more impassioned and pained as the tune goes along. “Blinding Light” truly does feel like you are coming out of a tunnel into pure light and energy. It isn’t any production trick that does this for Stephanie. They are really just belting it out like they mean it (check out their live version of the tune here at KEXP for more proof). It’s hard as a young band to write a song with the conviction that “Blinding Light” captures here, but Stephanie does it well, and it speaks well of them for future releases.
Stephanie just performed live on KEXP and at The Sunset this past Saturday night as part of KEXP’s Audioasis benefit series with Don’t Talk To The Cops, Dude York, and Wimps. Look for their performance soon on our Live Performances Archive. You can listen to more songs right now from One Glove on the band’s Soundcloud page and find out more about them on Facebook. Word is the band is taking this year off from performing live, but they will likely release more music in the time to come. For now, check out this performance of Stephanie live at KEXP at the end of 2011:
