Label
Mystery Tape Laboratory
Early 1980s underground cassette label specializing in experimental and industrial music with DIY distribution methods.
About
Mystery Tape Laboratory is an underground cassette-based record label that emerged during the early 1980s as part of the experimental and industrial music underground. The label's primary format was cassette tape, reflecting both the DIY ethos and accessibility of tape-based distribution during that era. The label's catalog included artist releases and curated samplers, as well as self-titled mystery compilations that aligned with the label's enigmatic branding philosophy. The label's release strategy emphasized experimentation and artistic freedom, as evidenced by releases such as "Kissing Jesus In The Dark" (1983) and various test and mystery tape compilations. Mystery Tape Laboratory functioned as both a record label and a curator of underground sounds, distributing its catalog through printed materials including a dedicated catalogue magazine. The label's cassette-centric approach positioned it within the broader network of DIY industrial and experimental labels that thrived in the early 1980s, helping to document and distribute challenging music outside mainstream commercial channels.
