Half-Handed Cloud delivers an ecletic mix of instruments and arrangements to create a unique work of art unlike most others.

Title: Flying Scroll Flight Control
Artist: Half-Handed Cloud
Label: Asthmatic Kitty Records
Time: 18 tracks/26:21 min.

I am almost ashamed to admit it, but this is my first experience with Half-Handed Cloud. However, it was a quite enjoyable experience - very quirky, but still enjoyable. While some bands do quirky just for the sake of quirky, Half-Handed Cloud knows how to pick and choose the right mood and instrumentation for each song. According to the label, this album features “a 5-person female choir, manipulated recording tape, fuzz bass, clarinet, some piano, a child’s Magnus air organ, rhythmic zipper, trombone, a cushioned stylophone stick, and intermittent backpacker guitar.” You never feel like there is a note or melody or idea out of place. Everything is presented as well-crafted whole… even though there is a good bit of chaos in there. Maybe controlled chaos is a better term? Eighteen songs fly by pretty fast – probable due to the fact that all are under two and a half minutes (and many only clock in at around a minute long). Lyrics are pretty straight-forward Christian lyrics – but not in a cheesy CCM-cheerleader way. Also available in vinyl format with or without a slip mat featuring custom artwork. Overall, I would refer to this as sonic artwork for the normal person that likes something a bit different in the mix.

By Matt Crosslin (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

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