As 2023 came to a close yesterday I realized that I couldn’t remember exactly which year I started Minimum Table Stacks, the blog nor the label. I’ve been fortunate enough to see some of my releases appear in the countless “year end” lists everyone compiles on all of the various social media outlets I peruse but even I get confused as to which year certain records came out. I even saw a few different objections to the Sheaves record being included in “Best New Releases” lists because its technically a reissue of a cassette from the previous year. Seeing this sort of dialogue made me think of William Shatner addressing fans at a Star Trek convention when he hosted Saturday Night Live in December of 1986. Yet, I find myself becoming just as annoyed and argumentative when I see certain details being omitted (ignored?) while reading the lists, reviews, press releases, etc. We’re all just…passionate, right?
So, to start off 2024, I am very proud to announce the next Minimum Table Stacks release will be ANOTHER reissue of a previously released cassette: “Since My Baby Left Me” by Midnight Mines from London. The LP is the second in a planned trilogy of LP’s by MM, the first being their self-released “If You Can’t Find A Partner Use A Wooden Chair” LP from 2016. Pressed in an edition of 300 copies, the LP will come with a 12 page digest-sized zine and 8×10 hand-numbered print, both designed by Private Sorrow. If you’re lucky enough to be in London or surrounding areas, the LP will be available at the next Mystery Planes event on Saturday January 27 at Walthamstow Trades Hall. Copies will be available stateside via Fusetron, Revolver/Midheaven, as well as the MTS Bandcamp (BOO!) and Big Cartel (YAY!) pages around the same time.
Thank you very much to everyone who, in 2023, bought my releases…carried my releases in your store/distro, told other people nice things about my label, played my releases on your radio show or in your DJ set, or just gave me a shout out on IG/twitter/Facebook/etc.. Just being in “the game” means a lot!
And just to have it on record, mostly to remind MYSELF what I dug this year, here are my top whatever favorite releases that I can remember of 2023:
New:
Drifting “Dream Autopsy” LP (Förlag För Fri Musik)
Ashtray Navigations “Saturation” LP (Bandcamp)
Nusidm “The Last Temptation of Thrill” LP (Bruit Direct Disques)
Kito-Mizukumi Rouber “Mie Nak Nar Kmr” LP+CD (Shit-Eye Cassettes)
ZULI-Komy EP (Bandcamp)
Leo Lackritz “Crazy Enough” LP (Bandcamp)
William Henry Meung “Hiraeth And Limerence” LP (Horn of Plenty)
Famous Mammals “Instant Pop Expressionism Now!” LP (Siltbreeze)
Sundae Painters s/t LP (Leather JAcket Records)
Cuticles “Major Works” LP (Siltbreeze)
Cuticles “Pavlova” 7″ (Wormwood Grasshopper)
Home Secretary “past lily’s” LP (Bandcamp)
Adulkt Life “There Is No Desire” LP (Jabs)
Sarah Mary Chadwick “Messages to God” LP (Kill Rock Stars)
People Skills “Hum of the Non-Engine” LP (Digital Regress)
Private Sorrow “More Disturbance” cassette (Mystery Plane)
Zwangsbeglucktertum “If It Pleases The Court” 7″ (I Dischi Del Barone)
Helpful People “Brokenblossom Threats” LP (Tall Texan)
Darksmith of California “End of Life” LP (Second Sleep)
Sacred Product “Return Souvenir” 7″ (Wormwood Grasshopper)
Los Llamarada “Space and Time” LP (C/Site Recordings)
Idea Fire Company “Bathroom Electronics” LP (Horn of Plenty)
Old:
Crawling With Tarts “Tea Room” LP (Concentric Circles)
Minisnap “Bounce Around” LP (Tall Texan)
Fysisk Fostran “Räkenskapens Dag” LP (Fördämning Arkiv)
The Cat & Bells Club s/t LP (Blank Forms)
Gee Gee Decorator s/t LP (Coq Au Vinyl)
V/A “Take the Time to Listen – Musique D’expression Libre Dans Les Classes Freinet / Tape Music, Sound Experiments And Free Folk Songs From Freinet Classes – 1962/1982” LP (Born Bad)
