Fifteen years in, Minnesota's Cloud Cult remains a strong force in independent music. What started out as Craig Minowa's solo project in 1995 has grown into a full-fledged ensemble featuring cellist Sara Young, bassist Shawn Neary (former Tapes 'n Tapes member), drummer Arlen Peiffer, violinist Shannon Frid, French horn/ keyboardist Sarah Elhardt, and even two live painters and performers (including Minowa's wife, Connie). Instead of signing to an established record label, the group decided to remain autonomous and started their own, Earthology Records. Dedicated to providing artists with eco-friendly practices, Cloud Cult became a pioneering "green band" by using 100 percent recycled materials.
After eight studio albums that often explored philosophical conundrums, Minowa got positive on the band's latest, Light Chasers. The band brings its instruments and paint brushes to Philadelphia for a World Cafe studio session.
Check out the playlist below.
| The Church | Under the Milky Way | Starfish |
| Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros | 40 Day Dream | Here Comes EP |
| Arcade Fire | Ready to Start | The Suburbs |
| The National | Terrible Love | High Violet |
| Cloud Cult | You'll Be Bright | Recorded Live for the World Cafe |
| Cloud Cult | Running With the Wolves | Recorded Live for the World Cafe |
| Cloud Cult | Forces of the Unseen | Recorded Live for the World Cafe |
| Cloud Cult | Everybody Here Is a Cloud | Recorded Live for the World Cafe |
| Procol Harum | Conquistador | Best Of Procol Harum |
| XTC | Earn Enough For Us | Skylarking |
| Jukebox the Ghost | Empire | Everything Under the Sun |
| Josh Ritter | Girl in the War | Recorded Live for the World Cafe |
| Amos Lee | Windows Are Rolled Down | Mission Bell |
| Peter Bjorn & John | Amsterdam | Writer's Block |
| Ra Ra Riot | Boy | Orchard |
| Bert Jansch | Kate Cruel | The Black Swan |
| Pearl Jam | Daughter | Vs. |
| Matt Costa | Witchcraft | Mobile Chateau |
| Richard Thompson | Season of the Witch | Crossing Jordan |
| Girls | Heartbreaker | Broken Dreams Club EP |
| My Morning Jacket | Off the Record | Z |
| Jenny & Johnny | Scissor Runner | I'm Having Now |
| Paul McCartney | Every Night | McCartney |
| Erland & the Carnival | My Name is Carnival | Trouble in Mind EP |