We Haven't Just Been Told, We've Been Loved

by Half-Handed Cloud

Overview

Not much of a departure from the debut album, but the second offering from Half-Handed Cloud is another dizzyingly complex swirl of psychedelic pop, children's music, and Christian apologetics. Again, Half-Handed Cloud's leader, John Ringhofer, whips through a collection of brief, interconnected songs -- this time 24 song in 33 minutes. Most of them are piano-led, but he threw in just about everything else he could get his hands on: cello, whistles, pots and pans, and more. It sounds like a really smart Sunday school class on a sugar high let loose in a music store. The supporting cast includes most of the same people involved on Learning About Your Scale, but members of the Danielson Family also help out (Daniel Smith recorded some of the tracks, co-produced the album, and did an admirable job of mixing what could have easily been a jarring mess with so many different sounds coming together). "We Don't Know How It Grows," an epic track by Half-Handed Cloud standards, clocking in at over two and a half minutes, is one of the highlights. An acoustic guitar introduces the song and handclap punctuations and an accordion-led chorus follow before a trumpet and acoustic guitar chime in the finale: brief and complex, but not haphazard. We Haven't Just Been Told, We Have Been Loved may not be much of a progression from its predecessor, but it's every bit as successful in conveying complicated theological ideas in the form of finely wrought, yet lo-fi pop songs without a hint of preachiness. ~ Jason Nickey

Product Details

Release Date:	10/01/2002
Label:	Sounds Familyre
UPC:	0656605929828
Rank:	171689

Tracks

1. In Holy Pursuit
2. Tuck Us in, Father
3. Our First Full Day Was Spent in Rest
4. Running Late For Bed
5. That You May Be Gracious
6. There Remains a Rest
7. I Got a-Rested
8. Work Isn't What It Seemed to Be
9. These Growns We Wear
10. Hey Advocate
11. Pressing Into It
12. I'm the Blinder
13. So-So Sorry Teacher
14. We Don't Know How It Grows
15. Worry-in the Waves
16. Sailing the Veil-Boat
17. We Are Not Orphaned
18. Those Who Are Saved Say, I'm Lost
19. Dear John
20. Samuel Sleeps Where the Ark Lays
21. We're Very Greatly Loved
22. Even the Sparrow'd Be Arrowed
23. Drowning Chariot
24. Baldy Knees

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Half-Handed Cloud   Primary Artist
John Ringhofer   Multi Instruments,Prayers,Vocals,Noise
Brandon Buckner   Drums
David Smith   Drums (Snare)
Sufjan Stevens   Vocals (Background),Whistle (Human),Floor Tom,Casio,Handclapping
Lowell Brams   Accordion

Technical Credits

John Ringhofer   Composer,Producer
Drew Anderson   Mastering
Daniel C. Smith   Producer,Engineer,Mixing
Sufjan Stevens   Design