Comments
Half-Handed Cloud
Halos and Lassos
When not tromboning around as an Illinoisemaker, John Ringhofer spends his time pouring his creative inclinations into his upbeat but off-kilter project, Half-Handed Cloud. While the name might seem outlandish, the moniker serves as a true description of John’s – world through the eyes of a child – songwriting approach as each song gently transports us back to when times were simpler. Most of the nineteen songs here read like a Sunday school lesson with biblical imagery and scriptural language living and breathing alongside modern day laments and worshipful ditties worthy of the Psalms. While these compositions are painted with lighthearted melodies backed by drum machine driven beats and Nintendo-like keyboards (courtesy of an omnichord), they only serve to get the point across as most are shy of the two-minute plateau. It’s a quick album, but if you don’t feel better about life after a listen, you should probably see your psychologist.
[Asthmatic Kitty] Sam Farries
This album review was originally published in the March/April Issue (#118) of HM Magazine. Order the Print Version to read tons more reviews.
©2006 HM Magazine - All Rights Reserved
Return to Album Reviews
