
Local combo Renminbi—the duo of Lisa Liu and SMV, joined by a string of guest drummers—has developed a solid local buzz based on a style that summons memories of Olympia, Washington’s riot-grrrl scene of the early ’90s: Some songs are tense and wiry; others, relaxed and synth-padded. But on its newly released single, “Portland,” Renminbi demonstrates a serious dose of low-key heavy that calls to mind much of what we all love about noise-pop combos like Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo. (We also love the fact that drummer Jenny Johnson, whose brute swing is an integral part of the cut, happens to be Jenny Olivia Johnson, a celebrated young contemporary-classical composer.) The track heralds a new EP, Surface, produced by downtown auteur Don Fleming and due to be released on July 7; you can register here to download “Portland” and sign up for a free download of the EP. You’ve also got two chances to catch Renminbi live in the near future: this Sunday, June 21, at 2pm at Bushwick Music Studios—part of the citywide Make Music New York celebration—and on Thursday, July 2, at 8pm at Pianos, the official EP-release party and tour-kickoff celebration. Turn up at the Pianos date and you’ll get a complimentary limited-edition CD pressing of Surface—bonus!









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