Anton Barbeau - Antronica (2014)

Known for his "mystical psych-guitar fuzz," as Spin Magazine puts it, Sacramento native Anton Barbeau has released something like a million billion albums, including collaborations with the Bevis Frond, the late Scott Miller, Oxford folkies Stornoway and Sharron Kraus and his own band Three Minute Tease, the latter featuring ex-Soft Boys Andy Metcalfe and Morris Windsor. Perhaps it's surprising for some, then, that Barbeau's latest solo release, Antronica, is a synth-heavy offering. It's not surprising for the artist, however. "I grew up on my parents' Beatles, Doors and Neil Diamond albums, but it was Gary Numan who sparked the desire in me to actually play music," he says.