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Half-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 some genuine vocal talent in the vein of Paul Simon or Jars of Clay.  He can write a song that will make you think.  He plays a variety of instruments, seemingly without limitation. But…

Who writes 25 songs that average less than a minute apiece?  Who releases a CD that features piano, banjo, flute, drums, a power saw, French horn, tuba, rubber bands, birds chirping, kazoo, rubber duck, toy piano, and cello? Suffice it to say that John Ringhofer is wired a little differently than most of us.  Much like Beck or Freedy Johnston, I can’t decide if he’s a talent waiting to be embraced by the mainstream or a schizophrenic madman recording his own personal insights for posterity.

The songs here defy description.  Some sample titles: “those people we made? We love ‘em!,” “holy pouch shoe guidance,” “tanning beds to shine your love,” and “so busted before Your righteous throne.”  “those people” is a four song opus in the vein of Simon and Garfunkel that lasts a total of 4:02.   “we must be ploughed up” and “secret Christ costume” do the best job of showcasing the vocal talent behind Half-Handed Cloud. 

This CD reminds me of the old Schoolhouse Rock spots on TV: the singer makes a point, goes off in a different direction, then the band strikes up again.  If you have a half hour to listen, then another half hour to recover, I guarantee this album will leave an impression on you. Definitely for fans of They Might Be Giants or Danielson Famile.

Brian A. Smith  10/14/2001

Half-Handed Cloud is the stage name of John Rinhofer, 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).

Ken Mueller 10/16/2001

Half-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 structures and the way Half-Handed Cloud turns a verse are innovative, in a Danielson kind of way; and the guitar style is very similar to Dan Smith's. Danielson makes quirky music with odd twists and instrumentation, but the toy pianos and the glockenspiels fit the songs. But Half-Handed Cloud puts odd sounds and samples in every song, whether they fit the music or not. Sometimes Half-Handed Cloud’s sound effects fit the song quite literally, like when he says something about poking your eye out and you hear a "pop... (sound of a rolling marble across the floor)..." But with too much strange sound just for sound's sake, a little restraint may have been a good thing. Still, the songs are short and sweet and this is good stuff.

Tony LaFianza 10/24/2001