Uiuiuiui….ein Tonspion im Studio!!!!! Gerade noch rechtzeitig konnten wir seinen geheimen Report abfangen….aber wat solls, here it is 
On a wall…like a fly…here’s the latest report from the studio-spy!
Well, over the last days I had the opportunity to listen to a big bunch of material which will become the new Stefan Saffer album “From Rebellion to Redemption….and then back”! So, what we have at the moment is a huge mountain of work in different stages. Some songs are nearly finished with all tracks recorded, even with some master-mixdowns. Then we have a lot of songs, which are fully arranged, but with some instrumental and vocal parts still lacking. And finally there are still a bunch of raw sketches, demo-versions and unfinished stuff. But one thing you can say for sure by listening through all the reels: This is an exciting musical ride! With all his news songs, Stefan Saffer really defines more and more an original sound and style. Although his work is still heavily influenced by American music from Blues, Folk and Country (strong impact on some songs) to Soul and Rock’n’Roll – his own qualities stand out this time: First of all great, new songs, on which his voice sounds stronger and deeper than on all his previous releases and there are some really unique arrangements and sound tapestries on a lot of the material! Well, here’s a quick run-through on what I’d heard over the last days:
MONDAY 4PM: Announced as the first single, in my opinion one of the greatest songs he has written so far. Very “country” arrangement with pedal steel, brushed drums, piano and upright bass. Great hook, touching leadvocals, sounds like a “hit”!!!
ANOTHER PASSERBY: Deep and emotional moving acoustic song with a driving strumming guitar and really awesome vocals. Additional singing and mandolin by longtime friend and musical partner Laura Bean. And man, these two voices together really send shivers up my spine!
GONNA BE SOME TROUBLE TONITE: A mean and lusty rockabilly-song ‘bout being on the road. Performed solo by Stefan with some great, bluesy guitar-playing. Would be interesting to hear that one with a full band rocking out!
MUDDY WATER, HEAVY RAIN & DIRTY GROUND: The Tennessee-Three meet Steve Earle on this rocking highway-song. Great uptempo tune with exciting pedal-steel again by Sergio Stiletto and a hard driving “boom-tschika”-guitar sound!
IF I LAY ME DOWN: This one sounds to my ears like a mixture of country and soul music, bringing together a very sad, asking song ‘bout love and trust with a great arrangement of acoustic guitars, mandolin, a smooth and warm organ, accordeon, spare drums and great, great backup-vocals on the fade-out by Angela Hofmann, Kerstin Braun and Mareike Greb.
RAMBLING HIGHWAY 9 BLUES: Another song performed solo by Stefan. Well known already from last year’s tour, you can hear echoes from Mississippi John Hurt to Jimmy Page’s acoustic playing on this tribute to Stefan’s most traveled highway here in Germany! His voice really sounds like an old southern “chicken man” on that one!
THESE DAYS: Driving acoustic song with just a hi-hat-beat and some great backing vocals by stage buddy Toralf Friesecke.
BERLIN CITY SERENADE: Some sort of a really bombastic ballad with great dynamics, very interesting musical textures and sounds and a real…well, musical finish crowned by a breathtaking nearly 3-min long hurdy-gurdy-solo!!! Never heard anything like this, should be the last song on the record!!!
SWEET ANGEL MELINA: Nice, slow love-song performed solo by Stefan with a scorching trumpet-solo by Toralf Friesecke.
WHITE LINE FEVER: Stefan’s tribute to the rambling life he still lives. Just heard a rough demo-version of this driving bluegrass song. Will be arranged with dobro, harmonica, upright bass and lots of guitars!
So, if this is the album we are waiting for…the waiting is worth!!!! Really looking forward to it!! Sincerely, your fly on the wall 
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Saffer on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/stefansaffer