Mike Landucci's Blackbean & Placenta Tape Club has been churning our high-quality records for a little while now and has amassed a huge catalogue.  And the thing is I have never heard a record he's released that I didn't instantly love.  From the fuzz pop of Girlboy Girl and The Ninjas to Mahogany's space rock and Mandorris's lo-fi version of heaven, the label really is a staggering proposition.  Of course, it always helps when you work at a pressing plant . . . We sent Mike some lame questions and he was good enough to answer them.

Why did you start the label?
I started it to release my own music.  When I realised no one wanted to hear that, I started releasing other people's music.

What has been you favourite release so far?
Very tough question.  I've released about 150 things and I like almost all of them still.  I guess my favorites have been the Trendlenberg 12", the Able CD, and the Orange Cake Mix Grapefruit CD, and maybe the first comp CD.

What’s the last record you regret buying?
Adventures In Stereo Alternative Stereo Sounds.  I was really excited to get it cause their first CD is just terrific.  So I actually shelled out the dough and bought it new and it just sucks.  The guy, Jim Beattie, even admitted in Magnet that it's a pile of crap and it really is.  Instead of relying on samples, which was the genius of the first CD, they tried to use a live band for the songs and it just is so flat and dull.  I sold
that thing so quickly.

What would be your dream release?
Hmm . . . I'm not sure.  Probably something I appeared on that would actually be really good and well received.  And since that will never happen I guess it's my dream release.

Have you had much trouble financing the label?
Of course but not as much as most small labels cause I'm the king of cutting corners.

What has been the greatest barrier?
Wanting to release stuff that apparently no one else wants to hear.

What kind of distribution do you have?
I'm exclusiely distributed by Darla Records right now.  They are very helpful and supportive. 

Name some other labels you admire . . .
555, kylie, motorway, red carpet ring, chapter music, tape mountain, unread, hanson, k, smilex, boa, tinseltones, orgasm, deathbomb arc, betley welcomes careful drivers, oggum, little mafia, sunship/ef, white tapes, darla, rocket racer, eleet/generic, galaxy train, trolley bus, clairecords, the list could go on and on.

Nicest thing anyone’s ever said about one of your releases?
That they thought the Figurine CD was the best CD of the year.  A few people have said that. Or maybe the people who say they are trying to find complete collections of things I've released.  That's high praise I think.

What makes you happy?
Trading with other labels, getting good demos in the mail, people who are positive and supportive of labels they respect.

What’s your favourite shop?
I prefer on-line mailorders more than any particular store.  darla.com, kylie, fusetron, clair de leon mailorder..those sorts of places float my boat.

Well thank you Mike.  Check the dude's product:  http://www.freenoise.org/bbptc

Naturally Kylie stocks several fine items from Blackbean, but they always sell out quickly so be snappy.