If only everything in life were this straightforward. Medina Rekic and Hansjörg Loferer (Lofi) first met in 2005 and finding that they shared the same passions in life, ones revolving around the central tenets of hedonism, reckless abandon and a deep, deep love of loud music they decided to head on down the road together. Where it might lead they did not know, but out of this union emerged White Miles. Now four live videos later the dynamic duo have just embarked upon a UK tour supporting Courtney Love and released their début album job: genius, diagnose: madness all in the same week
Medina plays guitar and sings; Lofi plays the drums and also sings. Together they kick up one helluva storm. The basic blueprint from which they work is one engineered from garage rock, punk and its major constituent, the blues. A sonic line can be drawn all the way from White Miles back through The White Stripes, The Black Keys and Flat Duo Jets to early Chicago blues legends Howlin’ Wolf and Willie Dixon.
There is nothing particularly refined about White Miles. Theirs is a raw, no-nonsense approach to music, one based upon plugging the electric guitar into the bass/guitar amp, clattering the hell out of a drum kit and screaming holy blue murder over the resulting din. But for all of its primal lack of sophistication the White Miles’ sound is virile, visceral and undeniably exciting.
When the starter’s gun fires, job: genius, diagnose: madness jumps straight out of the traps as ‘Fake Smile’ just accelerates off down the track without so much as a by your leave. ‘Do As The Devil Says’ offers some temporary respite before early album taster ‘Can’t Stop’ restores normal blood and thunder service. As if by way of explanation, Medina screams “I can’t stop breaking the rules”.
Medina’s voice follows a trajectory from Joan Jett to PJ Harvey and back; her dirty blues guitar accompanying her pretty much most every inch of the way. And whilst Lofi’s drumming does adopt as its default setting John Bonham’s Hammer of the Gods approach to relentless rhythm, the album contains moments of tender respite. ‘Bitter Hands’ is a delicate oasis of calm and ‘Salting Your Own Wounds’, despite the pain suggested by its title, is a much gentler take on the blues.
As if to show that they aren’t going too soft, though, White Miles sign off this impressive début with the scabrous title track; the guitar and drums carve out a scuzzy beat whilst Medina and Lofi scream out the mantra of the song’s and the album’s defining chorus.
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“job: genius, diagnose: madness” was released on 12th May 2014. For more info about how and where to get the album, please drop an email to: [email protected]
UK tour w/ Courtney Love:
16th May – Leeds, 02 Academy
18th May – Birmingham, 02 Academy
19th May – Bristol, 02 Academy
20th May – Nottingham, Rock City
22nd May – Newcastle, Riverside
