After two raucous punk and indie guitar rock albums with his band SSB, Leipzig singer/songwriter Stefan Sa!er returns with his ninth album – and this time, he takes a completely different musical direction. "Leipzig-West" is an intimate, acoustic masterpiece deeply rooted in the folk tradition while confidently exploring the boundaries between blues, country, and modern indie folk.

The focus is on an urban, contemporary folk style that references Sa!er's punk and rock roots while remaining open to new musical experiments. The ten new Sa!er originals, some of which have been completely re-arranged and recorded, are less socially critical and politicized than on their last album, "German Babylon." Instead, they focus on personal themes: arriving and leaving, being on the move, and finding one's place in the world. The album title, "Leipzig-West," is more than just a geographical reference—it's the most frequently used motorway entrance and exit on Sa!er's countless journeys to gigs and explorations across the country.

Rough, spartan, and without frills: Sa!er puts the voice, guitar, and song in the foreground. The production is deliberately not polished, but bears traces of real life, passion, and empathy. Each song is given its own coloring by the addition of individual Instruments such as mandolin, violin, bass, and beautiful harmony vocals. He is supported by select musical guests such as former Strangemen Rudi Freese from Berlin and his longtime duet partner Laura Bean from Los Angeles.

In keeping with the album title, this music unfolds best at dusk or at night, while traveling along the winding access roads of the A9 and A14 motorways around Leipzig and Halle. This creates that special atmosphere that only Sa!er can conjure with his voice and his songs. "Leipzig-West" is an album for the soul—and for all those who long for real, unvarnished stories.