Shades of Red is fronted by lead vocalist and lyricist Solveig Whittle, and backed by songwriter and guitarist/keyboard player Jack Brand. The band formed in the early 2000s, and played various Northwest venues leading up to and in support of their first CD, the self-produced December Sunday, which included several Brand-Whittle songs. When it came time to hit the studio again, Shades of Red was eager to take a whole new approach to their second CD.

The fingerprints of Stevie Adamek, veteran Seattle music producer and former member of two iconic 1980s Seattle bands, The Allies and Bighorn, are all over the new CD, Absolution.  Adamek not only arranged, produced, and co-wrote half the songs, he also played drums, bass, keyboard and rhythm guitar on many of the tracks. Adamek first entered the Northwest music scene in the 1970s as a producer/engineer and musician with top studio Seattle West. He then brought over fifty of his original compositions into the energetic rock/pop band Bighorn when he joined them in 1977. Bighorn was signed to Columbia records in 1977, and Adamek toured the US extensively with them until 1979. After they broke up, he became a member of power pop Seattle band, The Allies, perhaps best known for their song “Emma Peel”, a lovelorn homage to Diana Rigg's character on The Avengers TV series which gave the band national recognition. Adamek’s extensive musical experience and talents bring depth, energy, and a quirky originality to Absolution. A familiar driving rhythm section and a layered sound combine 1980s power rock production techniques with original left turns in the instrumental lines. These elements engage the listener from the opening hook in the first song right through to the last note of the CD. <<more>>