Every now and then an artist releases an album that makes people sit up with a start. That grabs you by the throat and hollers in your face with a call to arms. Dreams From The Factory Floor is such an album.
Louise Distras has been playing in our towns and cities for the last few years, either sharing stages with some of the key names on the punk rock circuit or headlining in her own right, spreading her exciting brand of acoustic DIY punk.
The energy and excitement from these live gigs has finally been channelled into a debut long player. But don’t be fooled in to thinking just because Louise is an acoustic singer, this is going to be a twee, throw away release. This is the real deal and it bristles with something sadly lacking in a lot of other current releases. Passion. You can feel it ooze from every one of the 12 tracks. The songs tell of the everyday struggle of modern life ("I'm wary of the past and I'm scared of being used, of having no roof and of having no food, I walk down these streets and I've got holes in my shoes, this town will never change, this town will change its tune") , the fight against injustice ("equal rights aren’t special rights") but there's also an overall optimism that permeates the album. All this and more are delivered with a voice that ranges from a guttural roar to a soft melodic intonement . This is punk as fuck and at times the sound is so big you forget it’s just Louise and her guitar - okay there are bit parts from Jamie Oliver (UK Subs) and Mick Talbot (Style Council / Dexys).
Louise has been likened to Billy Bragg and Frank Turner and you can see the connection, not only because of the acoustic protest singer tag, but like the aforementioned singers there is potential to cross over to a much wider audience than the appreciative punks who have taken her to their hearts.
I’ve been patiently hanging around for this album for most of the year but even I’m taken aback at just how great Dreams From the Factory Floor sounds. This could just well be the debut album I’ve been waiting for since The Clash!
I just ask two things of anyone reading this, firstly go out and buy the album and give support to this truly independent DIY artist and secondly, next time Louise is playing in a town near you, make sure you get your arse down there, you won’t be disappointed.
Stand Strong Together promo video with Jenny Woo
Dreams From the Factory Floor is released worldwide on 30th September via Street Revolution Records
To pre-order or for more information check http://www.louisedistras.co.uk/
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