Walter Schriefels solo effort sees hardcore hero turned folk troubadour. An Open Letter to the Scene serves as a DIY manifesto for those wishing to survive the pitfalls of the music industry. The album is an adept mix of old and new influences, as well as material: Don’t gotta prove it is effectively a cover of a cover (Walter penned the song for the band CIV back in 95), here reinvented an acoustic R&B workout complete with 60’s organs. The album is laden with bitter sweet pop drawing heavily on the songbooks of Ray Davies and The Who for inspiration; She Is to Me wouldn’t sound out of place in The Kinks back catalogue. Walter’s brand of acoustic pop marks a clear departure from the New York hardcore scene from which he is synonymous and may cause dismay amongst fans of Quicksand. Though his hardcore philosophies have never been so self evident: ‘Don’t forget the struggle, don’t forget the streets, don’t sell out’. The fact that he toured the UK in a hire car with only the radio for company should dispel any belief that Walter has sold out. Though is fair to say some tracks lack the overall bite of say Rival Schools or Walking Concert, however the material as a whole is more cohesive and fully realised. The standout track Shootout sees Walter at his most tender and is a heartfelt ballad accounting the breakdown of a relationship. The lyrics are as direct and personal as they are ambiguous and enough to keep the listener questioning.

An Open Letter to the Scene is a deceptively simple record that after repeated listens uncovers many hidden gems. It serves as both a stop gap for Rival’s Schools fans as well as reaffirmation of Walter’s talents as a songwriter. An Open Letter to the Scene is due for release on April 26th through the UK label Big Scary Monsters.