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July 17, 2009

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

5

Who you know

Friends contribute to CDs from new voices and a familiar one

by Anthony Glassman

Two upcoming August releases reveal a startling secret of the music business: it doesn't matter how old you are, it's who you know.

Now, we're not talking about nepotism here. We're talking about getting the best and the brightest to work with you, to put out incredible music.

Take the New York trio Renminbi's new EP, Surface.

One can be sure that on their own,

3

SANDR BERNHARD whatever it takes

Lisa Liu's guitar and vocals, her girlfriend SMV's keyboards and drummer Jenny Johnson's skins would blend together into something thoroughly enjoyable.

However, blended with the produc-

art-rockers Sonic Youth are famous. What is a surprise is that three women, all fairly young, can do it seemingly without effort.

The EP is only four tracks long, which would seem to be highway robbery if listeners couldn't stream it online or download it for free at http:/ /renminbi.cashmusic.org/surface.

For those who like holding, having, owning, possessing a physical thing, there are packages available for pur-

hell's

chase ranging from the EP on blue vinyl and a download code for their fulllength album The Phoenix, plus other goodies for just $10; up to $175 for a personalized USB turntable or an iPod, download codes, and a lifetime entry

famous and fabulous since the 1980s.

Now she's back with her latest album, Whatever it Takes, a blend of rock and world music bringing together some of the finest popular musicians from around the globe.

The most recognizable friend she brought in was Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of the Pretenders.

Now, with Hynde, both Akron and England are represented, and Bernhard, born in Flint and raised in Arizona, is a New York stalwart, in addition to Hollywood and a post-adolescent stint on a kibbutz in Israel.

She brought in DJ U-Cef, Erol Josue and Jean Paul Samputu to present the sounds of Africa, South America and the Middle East.

Just to really bring the weird associations, the producer on this album is Ted Mason, former back-up guitarist and producer for Modern English.

You know, the band that did "Melt with You," that iconic and thoroughly overplayed 1980s New Wave song.

Those who are familiar with Bernhard's singing know fairly well what to expect.

The first track, "All Around," does not showcase her voice particularly well. She sounds very much as if she were bursting into song in the middle of a musical, rather than singing on an album.

On other tracks, her voice flows more naturally, and she no longer has that problem.

Overall, the only real complaint anyone could have about the record is that she is not doing any schtick, any comedy. This is not the recording of one of her one-woman shows like With You I'm Nothing, which is perhaps one of the most sublime records combining singing and comedy since . . . well, since Bette Midler's earlyto mid-range releases.

Also, strangely, Bernhard's voice sounds remarkably separate from the instrument tracks. There is a disconnect between the music and the singing, as if she was providing the vocal track long after the backing tracks were laid down.

It is, perhaps, simply an issue of the volume on that track being set a touch too high.

Regardless, its detraction from the perfection of the whole is a minor

quibble. What is far more important is that Bernhard has proven again that she is a consummate entertainer with something to say.

SMV and Lisa Lui of Renminbi.

V

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tion of Don Fleming, now that's when the magic really happens.

Fleming is a singer and producer who has worked on some of alternative music's greatest albums, and he's in Sonic Youth's inner circle.

So it's not surprising that Surface has that wall-of-sound vibe for which

on guest lists for their shows. There are various levels in between, of course, but they're taking the business end of things into their own hands and giving the fans some great things with which to play.

While Renminbi are fairly new to the public eye, Sandra Bernhard has been

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