Some direct influences: Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey, Jeff Buckley, Bikini Kill, Nirvana, John Lennon, Patti Smith, Ramones, Sleater-Kinney, electronica
Other music we love: Electrelane, Liars, Neu!, the Breeders, M.I.A., Pavement, Deerhoof, Television, early Liz Phair, the Germs, X-Ray Spex, Holly Golightly, Etta James, Spacemen 3, the Vaselines, Lucinda Williams, Neil Young, Le Tigre, Pixies, Velvet Underground, Robert Johnson, the Beatles, Deerhunter, MBV, LCD Soundsystem, Aretha, the Voidoids, Lightning Bolt, Flin Flon, the Heartbreakers, X, David Bowie, John Fahey, the Gossip, so much more . . .
Sounds Like
THUS SAYETH THE PRESS:
"Perhaps the next great thing in experimental rock, Renminbi features a tightly wound mix of guitar, keyboards and drums -- the effect, to say the least, is powerful.... 'The Phoenix' is a refreshing change from the formulaic puzzle-piece rock that gathers the bulk of radio airplay and media attention these days.... Renminbi truly goes for it on every track, pouring their technical skill and innovative vision to make each song stand out." -Jessie Nelson/Venus Zine
"Economists already know about the renminbi, the Chinese currency that has appreciated by double digits while the dollar has nosedived. But some fans know Renminbi as a mostly instrumental digi-rock outfit from Brooklyn, whose full-length debut 'The Phoenix,' out today, is an incendiary collection of spacey noise nuggets. The stock of both is rising." -Scott Thill/WIRED Mag's Listening Post
"The trio are as dynamic as they are wide-ranging.... Liu’s guitar is a beautiful sunset against SMV’s rich landscapes of sound.... Long story short, ['The Phoenix'] is an awesome listen." -Jay Lowe/'Sup Mag
"Tense riot-grrrl-informed indie rock." -Time Out New York
"Lisa Liu and SMV don't say a lot on Renminbi's first full-length album, 'The Phoenix.' Instead, the experimental rock duo relies on their instruments to do the talking. It turns out they have a lot to say.... The intricate instrumental parts are a perfect juxtaposition [to] the minimalist approach Renminbi takes to writing lyrics." -Cleveland Free Times
"Renminbi's name is a lot like its music -- it takes more than a glance to properly read it, but it's worth the effort. Renminbi's tunes ... pleasantly [guide] listeners up builds, down chord progressions and through tempo shifts ... as [the band's] driven ambiance takes over." -Caleb Goellner/The Pitch
"You know what really turns me on? Chicks with huge balls. Renminbi ... hold nothing back in creating a flustering stampede of sound.... These girls will not only impress you with their writing and playing, but they will also knock you flat on your ass. Renminbi's musical compositions are noticeably mature as they often teeter the line, but never fully cross, into harmonious resolves." -Hidden Track
"Experimental noise rock with odd tempos and sudden melodic openings.... Don't miss!" -The Deli
Lisa Liu is "a pretty mean-spirited axewoman, which means, y’know, ROWR times 1,000 as far as this writer is concerned. 'Siren' is probably the apotheosis of her badassery, a filthy-good sort of workout where she and [Jim] Archer seem to be mapping new territory as they go along.... Overall grade [for 'The Phoenix']: very good." -Matt Cibula/Cave17
"An engrossing listen.... 'The Phoenix' is one of the more catchy releases I’ve heard thus far this year." -Gavin Hoffman/SLUG Mag
"The Phoenix" is "a great album if you want to sit in the dark and crank the stereo.... [Renminbi] know how to create some amazing sounds. Check this record out!" -Tom Spinelli/Melodic.net
"With its layers and loops, it's easy to get drawn into Renminbi's music.... Songs [with vocals] such as 'Siobhan' give ['The Phoenix'] enough accessibility to balance out the edge of the strictly instrumental tunes." -Trish Bendix/Sound Check
"Innovative, exciting, and inspired." -Cherry Grrl
"Solid." -Milk Milk Lemonade
Some bands we've been compared with over the years: Sonic Youth, Slint, PJ Harvey, the Breeders, Polvo, Bikini Kill, Live Skull, the Feelies, the Big Sleep, Low, Yo La Tengo, Explosions in the Sky, Mission of Burma, Mogwai, Unwound, Gone
Some bands we have played with: Vivian Girls, Miles Anthony Benjamin Robinson, Purple Rhinestone Eagle, Scrawl, Jenny Hoyston, Slumber Party, Your 33 Black Angels, Heavy Creatures, Thing-One, The Naked Hearts, Forest Fire, Gary Lucas' Gods & Monsters, To Kill a Petty Bourgeoisie, She Keeps Bees, Telenovela Star, Coltrane Motion, Schwervon, Ahleuchatistas and so many more
"Somewhere under Renminbi's fractured guitar onslaught and pulsating synth stabs hides vocal soundscapes that ultimately elevate 'The Phoenix' from its sparse, post-punk roots to a patchwork quilt of melodies that flow through the band’s art-damaged fabric. . . . 'Lachine' fills up in the middle with a pop hook reminiscent—but not derivative—of Sleater-Kinney, and 'Caveat' marries guitarist Lisa Liu’s expressive playing to cathartic singing that builds to epic proportions. As for the instrumental aesthetics, 'Siren' stands out as a prime example of Liu’s seemingly free-form guitar playing; jagged riffs and dissonance hit the musical canvas like Pollock’s paint drops, and 'A Delay' channels Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo but remains undeniably Renminbi. With such a promising full-length, it’s hard not to feel excitement over the sonic barriers this up-and-coming band will break through next. -Bill Dvorak/The Deli Magazine (Summer '08)
How to say our name? In three equal syllables, like this: REN-MIN-BEE
What does it mean? Literally, "The People's Currency."
We love playing shows, especially parties, DIY/alternative spaces, all-ages venues & free/low-cost events. Message us, email us, send telepathic signals -- whatever it takes so we can make some noise together!
"Siren" at Le Voyeur (Olympia, WA) - July '08
Get our new album The Phoenix by clicking any of these links:
hey lisa, sue, thats cool to hear.. i think rosie taught a self defence class i went to at ladyfest leeds - was she in the furious bears?? winter arroved here 2 days ago - well its sunny but its gone FREEZING cold ear muff weather!! hows nyc ? xxxx
Well,thank you so much. So,if you have some place where we could play together,we just have to take the plane and go to NY see you soon on stage, good friends!! De Luxe
