Half-Handed Cloud is the stage name of John Ringhofer, and Learning About Your Scale is an interesting blend of pop, experimental sampling, rubber ducks squeaking, birds chirping, and some wonderful wordplay. Acoustic guitar is at the core of most of these songs, but there are many other instruments and sounds thrown in.
The length of these quirky tunes ranges from 18-seconds all the way up to a whopping 2:23. And included in the mix are a few mini-rock-operas. One of these is a combination of four songs in four minutes taking us from the creation through the fall, with some nice Simon & Garfunkel harmonies for good measure. Another series of five songs clocks in at a total of just over two minutes, and deals with the cleansing work of Christ. Other songs deal with topics as diverse as the trinity, battling sin, and Christian unity.
This is a disc that will particularly appeal to fans of Sufjan Stevens, as well as Jai Agnish and the Danielson Famile (thought without the shrill falsetto of Daniel Smith).
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Opus 2002Reviewed by Jason MoreheadHere's the challenge that comes with reviewing Learning About Your Scale: trying to keep the use of the word "offbeat" to a bare minimum. Regardless of how you look at the album, that's the word that immediately comes to mind. Be it John Ringhofer's, umm, unique brand of Biblical exegesis, or the patchwork musical accompaniment, the only way to really describe this album is with terms straight…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Brian A. SmithHalf-Handed Cloud singer/songwriter John Ringhofer is: (a) like Paul Simon on acid (b) completely nuts (c) a talented artist with a unique outlook at life (d) a mishmash of noise and random thoughts (e) all of the above. After a few listens of Learning About Your Scale, my answer to the above question probably would have been D). After a few more, I'm leaning a lot more toward E). Ringhofer has…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Tony LaFianzaHalf-Handed Cloud takes a page from the Danielson cookbook of song styling and throws in a few of its own insane ingredients. Actually, one would have to compare the record to Danielson, since there aren't many other bands with this alternative, eccentric style. Compounding the comparison is the fact that Dan Smith is putting the record out on his label and selling it at his shows. The song…Similar sounding releases
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2005Thy Is A Word And Feet Need Lamps
2002We Haven't Just Been Told, We Have Been Loved
