Halos + Lassos

by Half-Handed Cloud

Overview

Listeners who found Half-Handed Cloud's Thy Is a Word & Feet Need Lamps to be just another British folk-inspired Christian singer/songwriter affair pining for Jesus in a regressive childlike voice over an ocean of Casio drum beats will find no respite on 2006's Halos + Lassos. John Ringhofer, who along with engineer/percussionist Brandon Buckner, make up the two-person collective that is this version of HHC may be less guarded and conflicted about their religious prerogatives this time around, but their penchant for writing infectious indie-folk tunes like "Foot on the Brake," "A Picnic Few Want to Attend," and "You've Been Faithful to Us Clouds" makes the occasional proselytizing bearable. The production as always is raw but clear, with tuba, omnichord, marimba, tympani, guitar, trombone, and banjo merging like rush-hour traffic through each and every cut, and Ringhofer's enthusiasm is genuine, yet one can't help but think that this instrumental Garden of Eden, with its youth-group choruses, sing-songy melodies, and Peter Pan imagery is about as far as he is willing to travel. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	03/07/2006
Label:	ASTHMATIC KITTY
UPC:	0656605888422

Tracks

1. Earth Outside of Ghost Will Only Be Quicksand
2. Tongues That Possess the Earth Instead
3. Foot on the Brake
4. Suit of Clouds to Ride the Skies
5. Praise Awaits You
6. Rise to the Heavens on Evaporation
7. A Picnic Few Want to Attend
8. In You Now, But Still Below
9. Eyes Peeled
10. You Wouldn't Embarrass Me, Would You?
11. You've Been Faithful to Us Clouds
12. Skip the Rope
13. Celebrating Hearts Aligned
14. They're Bad, But We're Worse
15. A Bed That Breathes with Him
16. Feed Your Sheep a Burning Lamp
17. Rainbow = Warbow
18. A Tree Replanted Back in Eden
19. Place Your Wind Against My Sails

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Half-Handed Cloud   Primary Artist
John Ringhofer   Melodion,Banjo,Bells,Guitar,Marimba,Prayers,Trombone,Omnichord,Handclapping,Guitar (Bass),Clapping,Bass
Wendy Buckner   Clarinet (Bass)
Brandon Buckner   Drums,Timpani,Clapping,Melodica,Percussion,Handclapping,Lap Steel Guitar

Technical Credits

Brandon Buckner   Mixing,Engineer,Percussion Programming
John Ringhofer   Arranger,Composer
Rafter Roberts   Mastering