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Reviews

Anton Barbeau — Dig the Light
(Bandcamp Think Like a Key TLAK1211, 2025, CD / DL)

Anton Barbeau — Glitch Wizard
(Bandcamp Think Like a Key TLAK1210, 2025, CD / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2025-11-07

Dig the Light Cover artGlitch Wizard Cover art

For 2025, Anton Barbeau has two albums on Think Like a Key, Dig the Light and Glitch Wizard. Just last year he released Morgenmusik​ / ​Nachtschlager, a 2CD set of songs, not to mention various 7” singles and collaborations with the likes of Astral Magic, The Fishheads, and others. Yes, he’s a very busy guy, and in fact these two new releases bring his total album count on Discogs to 48 (and I’m not sure that’s complete), of which we’ve covered only a few. His stock in trade is jangly psychedelic rock, though he touches on a lot of bases on these 26 songs. He doesn’t do it all alone, and his guests include Barry Melton, Dave Gregory (XTC), Andy Metcalfe (Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians), Gregory Curvey (Custard Flux), Donald Ross Skinner (Julian Cope’s band), Sharron Kraus, Rosie Abbott, Jeff Simmons, Randy McKean, Tom Monson, Todd Parker (Tadpoles), Karen Eng, Nick Carlisle (Bamboo), Julia VBH, and The Moore Brothers, some of whom appear only on a single track, and many of whom have appeared on previous Barbeau albums. Glitch Wizard kicks off with its title track, a catchy thumper built up from a throbbing rhythm section, with trippy psychedelic diversions, but with a synthesizer countermelody to remind you it’s not 1968. Some of the tracks do indeed feature glitchy editing or effects, though it’s far from the kind of electronic music usually associated with the term. Underlying most of the music there is an aesthetic clearly drawing on The Beatles’ work, especially from Rubber Soul to Revolver, though lots of other elements go into the mix, including touches of early-70s David Bowie. “Cousins,” “A Pattern Forming,” and others incorporate more synthesizers and electronic sounds, taking on an air of the mid to late 70s. Dig the Light seems to lean more on acoustic guitar and slower tempos, but stylistically is much the same. “Dogstar,” “Mushroom Madness,” and “Dig the Light” are all really appealing and bouncy, while “Incantation,” “Come the Hummingbird,” and “I Saw Syd” are more dreamy. With such a wealth of songs to choose from, I’m not sure how I’d choose between these two albums if I had to pick only one — it probably depends on my mood at any given time.

Filed under: New releases, 2025 releases

Related artist(s): Anton Barbeau, Custard Flux (Gregory Curvey)

More info
http://antonbarbeau.bandcamp.com/album/glitch-wizard

 

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