Hello Reader,
Welcome back. How’s your week been?
Today we’re going to delve into Cloud Cult. The band’s origins begin in 1995 in St Cloud, MN. It is a city of nearly 70,000 humans in the present day, ranking it the 12th largest city in Minnesota and, for an even more relatable perspective, the 542nd largest in the U.S. As the city has evolved in the decades since the band’s founding, the same can be said about the band’s members, sound, and songwriting. Beginning as a solo studio project for singer/songwriter Craig Minowa to release music, its first offering was The Shade Project (1995). The solo project soon became a band. What is the meaning of the band’s name? According to Minowa in an interview he did with Utne Reader that was published in March 2007, Cloud Cult comes from a part of a translation of a Hopi tribe prophecy relating to different eras of humankind and the balance between technology and surviving off the land while also living harmoniously.
In 1999, Craig and his wife at the time, Connie Minowa, founded Earthology Records. Craig, an Environmental Science graduate from the University of Minnesota and Connie, an herbalist, wanted to help make the music industry greener. And they definitely made a positive impact over time. According to Cloud Cult’s site about section notes, “Earthology Records, based at the time in Duluth, MN, would become the homegrown powerhouse where all of the band’s booking, publicity, CD replication, t-shirt production, and recording would take place. Through Earthology, Minowa co-developed the first 100% postconsumer recycled CD packaging in the U.S. market. Earthology Records was later moved to an organic farm south of Duluth, powered by solar and geothermal energy and built partially from reclaimed wood and recycled plastic. The band began zero net greenhouse gas practices for tours long before it was trendy to be green. The band’s merchandise is 100% postconsumer recycled or made of certified organic materials. Cloud Cult has planted several thousand trees to absorb the band’s CO2 output. They also donate heavily to projects that build wind turbines as revenue generators on Native American Reservations.”
In the bands’ existence its sound has described as various subgenres from indie folk, indie rock, indie pop to baroque pop to chamber pop to art rock and experimental rock and orchestral. Throughout the past few decades, Cloud Cult has continued on bountiful pace, first releasing Who Killed Puck? (2001), followed by They Live on the Sun (2003) which was inspired by the sudden death of Craig and Connie’s two-year-old son, Kaidin. Aurora Borealis (2004) came next followed by, Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus (2005), The Meaning of 8 (2007), Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) (2008), Running with the Wolves EP (2010), Light Chasers (2010), Love (2013), The Seeker (2016) which accompanied the film of the same name, and Metamorphosis (2022). The albums were well received in their native Minnesota and nationally as well, with most of the albums garnering critical praise and attention from the industry including using the band’s songs in commercials, tv and film. Including “You Were Born” which was featured in the season 7 finale of the long running show, How I Met Your Mother and also in season 2, episode 5 of the show The Blacklist. In the earlier years of the band, Minowa was also a writer and analyst for the Minnesota based, Organic Consumers Association (OCA) which is a non-profit advocacy group for the organic agriculture industry. In the last 15 years, Minowa has become known for film and tv composing.
Here’s a little preview of the band’s past, “You Were Born”:
(All credits and rights to Cloud Cult)
The current lineup of seven consists of Shannon Frid-Rubin on Violin, Jeremy Harvey on drums, Craig Minowa as the bandleader, lead singer/songwriter, and on guitar, Shawn Neary on bass, banjo, and trombone, Sarah Perbix on keyboard, French horn, and trumpet, Scott West as the live painter at shows, and Daniel Zamzow on cello and mandola.
And on Thursday August 8th, for your listening pleasure, via the bands own Earthology Records comes their newest album, Alchemy Creek. The album is named after the bands recording studio (a former cabin) within the picturesque Driftless Region in Western WI. See photo above for the studio, but the photo doesn’t do the region’s beauty, justice.
Via press release, while talking about the process of making the album, Craig Minowa stated: “It’s devastating to lose someone you’ll always love. So every day I’d fall apart when I came to work in that little cabin by the creek, and I’d write songs to try to piece my heart back together and make sense out of life.” He added, “You can hear the creek outside of the recording studio windows on this single as well as most of the album tracks. That’s where the idea of naming the album Alchemy Creek came from, because it felt like the songs were being delivered by the water, and that was somehow helping me process the pain and change me for the better.” While talking about how integral place was to in constructing to and also during one’s listening to this album, Minowa via press release stated, “All of the songs on the record are connected together to present one nonstop story, and I want the listener to feel like they are sitting there by the creek watching the whole album unfold. Providing a sense of place in this album was paramount.”
Giving credit where it’s due. Alchemy Creek album credits:
- Written, recorded, mixed and produced by Craig Minowa. Craig also played guitar, keys, piano, bass, drums, and contributed lead vocals.
- Shannon Frid-Rubin: played violin, and contributed vocals.
- Jeremy Harvey: played drums.
- Aurora Minowa: contributed vocals on “The Universe Woke Up As You”.
- Shawn Neary: played trombone, and contributed vocals.
- Sarah Perbix: played French horn, trumpet, and contributed vocals.
- Daniel Zamzow: played cello, and contributed vocals.
- Greg Reierson: mastered the album at Rare Form Mastering. He’s mastered the majority of Cloud Cult’s albums.
And now for some hype for your ears from the new album!
This song has everything one could desire in a pop melody, “The Universe Woke Up As You”:
(All credits and rights to Cloud Cult)
The reminder that “I Am A Force Field”:
(All credits and rights)
The most stunning slow burner you’ll hear today in, “As Beautiful As It Hurts”:
(All credits and rights to Cloud Cult)
Overall, Alchemy Creek achieves the vision explained via Minowa’s quotes earlier. It’s a deeply personable album in terms of subject matter, and yet the instrumentation and song composition make it even more accessible and such that you do not feel like you’re intruding on their lives. This album is grounded by the studio on water and the foundation examines Minowa’s mental exploration and processing in a beautiful way. Like several previous Cloud Cult albums, Alchemy Creek has a specific setting and place and sense of exploration, seeking and longing. Their albums serve as time capsules of where they were mentally, emotionally and on occasion physically in those exact record moments. I consider that a gift and though it is no competition, it is something that you notice as a listener. That some bands just aren’t focused on or able to execute as well as Cloud Cult, who seem to take more time to craft and document than others. Having those moments in time, has to be great to reflect upon years later as you look at your growth and also understand yourself better. I know fans enjoy those moments as well and how they relate to their own experiences as well. Alchemy Creek offers themes of sorrow, reassurance, processing grief through reflection and conversation. The album feels extremely cathartic for Minowa. The compositions are outstanding throughout, and you find earworms both to the melodies and some of the lyrics. Minowa’s vocals are welcoming and the backing vocals of Frid-Rubin, Neary, Perbix, Zamzow and Aurora Minowa are both complimentary to Craig Minowa’s and great on their own. The instrumentation from the talented band of Frid-Rubin, Harvey, Craig Minowa, Neary, Perbix, Zamzow is superb, and all have several moments to shine. The sonic quality is great, Listener, see if you hear the creek on one or more of the songs. Kudos to all involved.
The flourish of keys and stringed instruments really set an orchestral sounding tone to the first song on the album, “Got Your Backpack Open That Backdoor,” that continues to beautifully build until a crescendo halfway through the song leads to Minowa’s first vocals. His vocal delivery and emotive tone are instantly recognizable, and embrace you like a warm hug. To first time listeners that are pondering why his vocals sound so familiar? Your brain is most likely associating with vocalists from Modest Mouse, Arcade Fire or even Postal Service or others that are similar to Minowa’s delivery. Three-quarters into the song there is another melody shift, this time for a harsher sound environment generated which is led by strong guitar chords and drums. The lyrics often an invite into this adventure with some hesitation and weariness due to Minowa’s emotive vocals paired with the melody.
“The Universe Woke Up As You” opens with quick pace guitar strumming paired with Minowa’s vocals. Cello is added to enhance the melody as well as some well-placed background vocals wails, chants and truly lovely harmonies. The addition of more musical instrumentation of the stringed and percussive variety in the form of violin and drums cements a gorgeous melody. The lyrics are the beginning of this journey, we begin the path of examination, introspection, reflection and take the first step toward catharsis.
The back-and-forth key notes set the melody and create a futuristic sound within the song “I Am A Force Field” which is added upon by some lush strings as the vocals become anthemic. Minowa’s vocal range and the strings from Zamzow and Frid-Rubin are showcased in this song. At midpoint of the song, the forceful drum progression notes provides a nice break and reset, which leads the song along its path in the second half. The lyrics have layers of examination and reassurance and a lot of wisdom. They also reference the sensibilities of the narrator and also a certain Winnie-the-Pooh character.
The lyrics within “Vision In A Field” tell a narrative of talking to another yet oneself at the same time. As in, heeding your own advice. The melody is anchored by some lively piano notes and made more rich sounding with strings, vocal harmonies and steady drums. The cumulation of the sounds is a wonderful result which ends the song.
“One Human Being” begins with at a quicker pace than the previous song’s intro. Guitar strumming opens the melody which is joined by some jaunty string instrumentation. And backing vocals that again pair well with Minowa’s. The lyrics are introspective, seeking growth and longing for positive resolution yet the lyrics and vocal delivery has weariness and bittersweetness.
“Tonight I Run Away” begins with a fast heartbeat effect followed by a futuristic sound then a more traditional band sound. Guitar, percussion are heard to create a harrowing effect. A chant serves as the vocals for this song. Only seven words are used, four from the title plus ‘into’ ‘warm’ and ‘sun.’
“Over And Out” features a similar melody composition to the previous song. The way the melody builds in unison with the vocals is brilliantly done. Minowa’s vocal range and emotional range in his delivery are on display in this song. The lyrics are anxious at times, as the narrator has been through a great deal but still a work in progress, as they process.
The next song “Something In Me Is Changing” comes out on an assertive mission. I love the overall sound to the song, highlighted by its melody but also the bands vocals, the piano, driving drums and rollicking guitars. The lyrics come from a fatigued mindset but coupled with the composition of the song, become wonderfully anthemic.
“As Beautiful As It Hurts” is a slow burner. Its lyrics are introspective and trying to reassure. Minowa’s vocal pacing is spectacular and his delivery, slowed and breathy at times sticks with you. As do the quieter moments without vocals. Kudos. Once again, the backing vocals add so much and are paired perfectly. In terms of melody, piano reigns supreme and impact like a papercut on your finger. Then the strings finish the job, cutting you like a knife. Gorgeously done.
The brass instrumentation from Neary and Perbix to open “Let It All Out” is a flourishing moment to begin the tune. The notes build in the best ways followed by a drumbeat that sprints and more moments for the brass to shine. The lyrics are minimalist but powerfully cathartic. This is the longest song on the album and the melody and mood do reset at the midway point back to the first half but adding a more rock-based sound with less brass that ends in a slow electronic futuristic fade out.
“Different Kind Of Day” displays self-awareness that it has to be the ending to this specific journey and the song capitalizes on that awareness. The lyrics take parts from the previous states of mind, perspectives, thoughts and then summarize and move forward. The relatively simple guitar driven melody allows Minowa’s vocals and the harmonies from the band to be impactful to the listener. More instrumentation such as drums, brass notes are added later on and work well within the melody and overall sound when they’re called upon.
Alchemy Creek gets 4 out of 5 Scum Drops from me. Solidly in that 4 Scum Drops range, around that 77th-80th percentile. It caught my attention in the first few singles and listens and I came to appreciate the album with more listens. We’ll see at years end as more music is released. The album seemingly fits well into their discography too. Long time fans, what do you think? There’s a lot to like about this album. I recommend adding this to your collection on the environmentally friendly format of your choice.
Alchemy Creek Track listing (song length)
- Got Your Backpack Open That Backdoor (4:50)
- The Universe Woke Up As You (5:06)
- I Am A Force Field (4:25)
- Vision In A Field (4:11)
- One Human Being (3:21)
- Tonight I Run Away (5:03)
- Over And Out (2:27)
- Something In Me Is Changing (3:47)
- As Beautiful As It Hurts (4:21)
- Let It All Out (7:24)
- Different Kind Of Day (4:54)
Total runtime: 49:49
I’ll always advocate that you take the time to listen to every album in its entirety. The process with this album will take you just under an hour from start to finish. Along the way, you’ll discover your own favorite songs without the influence or bias of others. After a few listens on my own, the songs that are highlighted in green font above are my favorite songs on this album.
The bands website with socials at the bottom, August and September show dates, and informative tabs at the top of the page that include but are not limited to merch, and more of their music is linked right here.
Thank you for reading and supporting good music.
Until next time,
Alex
Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site: scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions!
Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
