Long-time Asthmatic Kitty Records artist Half-Handed Cloud is the moniker behind which John Ringhofer beautifully weaves complex and artistic pop melodies. Enveloped in straight-forward religious imagery and a cluster of instrumental variety, what Ringhofer accomplishes is nothing short of spell-binding, and all this with legendary indie artist Sufjan Stevens to lend his ear in mixing and production on what could easily be 2014's strongest chamber pop album.

Flying Scroll Flight Control is without a doubt Ringhofer's greatest musical achievement. Even from his lo-fi beginnings on albums like 2001's Learning About Your Scale, this young artist was obviously flowing with talent, making use of unconventional items like squeak toys to convey infancy and gorgeous arrangements of stringed instruments. However, it was only until thirteen years later that we were allowed to hear what a fully fleshed out experience by this artist would sound like. That being said is not to imply that Ringhofer didn't fully bring to life any of his previous albums; they were all capable of allowing you to see a unique world by which both instruments and lyrics worked together to create. What IS different about Flying Scroll Flight Control is the sheer strength in which we hear it. Every instrument and melody is unveiled, leaving the listener to be fully aware of their number and clever arrangement.

Here we see Ringhofer toying with not just the notion of a more colorful palette of instruments as a composer, but even more difficult to refreshingly convey, a bold and out-spoken proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Whereas in times past the artist's music would be littered with stories, here we see him unashamedly paraphrasing entire chapters of the new testament. Just about each track is modeled after a Pauline verse, but it manages to do so without sacrificing the author's intent as well as managing to sound completely genuine in the process. I think this earns the album a respectable spot to be labeled as a worship album because it does nothing but glorify the Lord in lyrics that the Spirit himself breathed upon the New Testament authors.

Focusing on the production of Flying Scroll Flight Control itself is a kaleidoscope of wonders. From the fast-paced intro to the calmingly moving "He's Already On Everyone's Side," every track is uniquely its own, yet the album falls apart with any of them missing. Sure, complaints could be found regarding its short running time (just a bit over 28 minutes), or its indulgence in the eccentric, but these characteristics are what make the album unique and more lovable. By the time we journey to the ends of the album's threads, we're given field recordings of Belgium, humming organs, tape manipulation, fuzzed-out distortion and legions of voices to lead entry into a wondrous musical experience that one only hopes comes around in their lifetime. I can only hope Ringhofer's creativity doesn't end with this album, even if it might prove to be his magnum opus.

JFH Reader Review: written by Bersain Beristain, 11/10/15, for Jesusfreakhideout.com