Bryan Day, who runs the labels Public Eyesore and Eh?, has built an incredible catalog of music since he began recording. Known for creating his own instruments, he’s even credited on Discogs as an “instrument inventor” probably the most accurate way to describe what he does.
This brings us to Pet The Tiger, a project that appears to be a collective of instrument inventors and experimental musicians. Their album Hail The Traveler could be described as “free music,” beginning with musique concrete style sounds before shifting into drone-like chants and eventually a more sing-song feel.
Personally, I really enjoy the experimental, chilled tone of many of the tracks. The vocal led pieces don’t resonate with me as much, though vocalist David Samas is clearly talented. I suspect I might appreciate his work more in a different context. That said, this is purely my perspective, and I encourage others to form their own impressions.
Tracks like Garden of the Gods are especially captivating and might be even more powerful if experienced live, watching the artists bring these unusual sounds to life. Overall, it’s a rewarding listen, and one I’ll definitely return to.

Being a fan of Ant-Zen in the late ’90s, I discovered the Hybryds and quickly dove deeper into their catalog. Through them, I also found other labels that I still follow today. Recently, I received a review package that included a handwritten note signed by Sandy Nijs, best known from the Hybryds. At first, I thought it had been slipped in by accident, but after looking closer I realized it was connected to a side project: Rabbits Wear Boots, a trance/techno/house venture.
While I haven’t followed techno closely in years, I can say this definitely carries the unmistakable feel of a Hybryds side project which I thoroughly enjoy. The tracks don’t really need a track-by-track breakdown; it’s hypnotic, driving, and, in the best sense, “mindless” music perfect for dancing or just zoning into the rhythm.
If you’re into this style, or if you’re already a fan of the Hybryds, Rabbits Wear Boots is worth checking out.

Brett Lunceford of Zaftig Research has been in the noise scene since 1997 or so and has done Christmas compilations since about 1999. Several years were missed but I'm sure things got busy as they do with all of us, it is nice to have him actively doing them again though. Instead of trying to pick favorite tracks and describing them here is a short piece about each track in the order that they appear.

C/A/T brings a track (X-Mas 2020) filled with samples from the news about Christmas events canceled by COVID-19 and slow rhythms.
Nava Spatiala presents a beautiful glitchy ambient piece (Promise Number 5).

Conure pretty notoriously records a track every year based on Ralphie from a Christmas Story but this year's track is (Randy’s Turn). Randy being Ralphie’s younger brother the track is compromised of several loops and layers masterfully placed for a fun/ominous track.

Humanfobia layers dark spooky drones and haunting indecipherable female vocals. Really beautiful haunting track. (Cold Nights On Route 182)

Larmschutz successfully uses a horn or horn sample to layer into a guitar droney piece called (Nasty Sliding Boy).

Next, we follow Miguel A. Garcia and Garazi Gorostiaga into an abandoned factory for some cold rattling winter drones (Skeenines). I have fairly recently discovered Miguel’s work through the project Wolkorots, and have been slowly working my way through checking out his great catalog of sounds.

Orange, the power electronics project of label founder Brett Lunceford brings a bleak look at what will be the (Last Christmas) for a lot of folks.

Narishkeit creeps in with a slow ambient piece, not too sure of the origin of this project but I like what I have heard on a previous Christmas compilation and an Inner Demon's CD. (326.096 Minuten Tussen Vier Muren)

This Is What I Hear When You Talk is a project from Dan who runs Inner Demons. This project brings such a mix of emotions at all times. He has an entire page dedicated to Harsh Noise Wall textures “inspired” by various forms of feelings and emotional trauma and self-doubt. In several of his releases off that page, he also injects humor into the titles of his pieces. (I See No Reason Why This Shouldn't Be The Best Xmas Ever)

Yaka-anima is a side project of Humanphobia, from what I can see online this project delves into Witch House, which is fine by me. I personally enjoy the genre. This track may not be for everyone who would enjoy the other projects on this compilation, I dig the change up myself. (The Climber's Ghost Of The North Pole)

Stolen Light, another project from Brett, is a master at layering found/sampled sounds. Everything feels organic, the textures are wonderful. (Sleigh Ride Accident)

Foot And Mouth Disease is a name I am familiar with because of the two releases available from Inner Demons. Here Foot And Mouth Disease has a piece that would go great on any cold lonely night. The title of the piece (Jingle Bell Cock) doesn't really fit with the track from what I hear but it is a good track nonetheless.

Praying For Oblivion is no stranger to the Zaftig Christmas compilations, he has appeared on a few in the past and always brings a great representation of his sound. (Weihnachtsgrüße Der Ostfront)

While I used to follow Ben Arp’s work more closely in the past I wasn’t aware of the project Corvx De Timor, which according to Discogs is his Witch House pseudonym. This track is a bit noisier than what I would consider standard for that genre. There is also a story about the Spirit Of Christmas spoken over it. I will have to go back and see what this project is all about in the near future. (The Spirit Of Xmas)

Goose brings a beautiful ambient track called Christmas Morning that sounds like a morning opening presents with the kids. Really well done, a good listen even if it feels like you are just a fly on the wall looking in on someone’s personal life. It does showcase a time we can reflect upon when a lot of the stress of life is put on hold. Thanks, Brett! (Christmas Morning)

This is another successful compilation for the Zaftig Research Christmas season and I hope Brett continues to curate these in the coming years.

I received several tapes from the label Eh? which is a side label of Public Eyesore. I have been familiar with Public Eyesore for a while now and was pleased to check out some of what they were sending my way. This tape is a duo of Patrick Shiroishi & Arturo Ibarra. Patrick Shiroishi is a Free Jazz saxophone player who also performs in several groups. I was not familiar with his work before this release but it does remind me of a bit of John Zorn at times. Arturo Ybarra spelled on this release Arturo Ibarra is also someone I was not familiar with previously, he is listed on Discogs as a Guitarist from Mexico. This is currently the only release he is listed on as the main member. He has contributed to several other rock albums over the years it seems.

The liner notes state that this release is loosely inspired by the forms of Japanese Guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi who performed as part of the New Direction Unit. LA Blues is the title of this album two tracks "Projection 8" and "Projection 58" are considered mass projections which are fairly chaotic, while "Projection 14" and "Projection 3" are considered gradual projections and build into chaos slowly.

Overall, I would recommend this release to anyone who enjoys this type of "free" or "psych" jazz music. It is well composed and for sure a great addition to any collection!

Seeded Plain is a project of Bryan Day (who runs Eh? and Public Eyesore) and Jay Kreimer with what seems to be occasionally a changing cast of additional performers. The Flying Falling album is the duo of Bryan and Jay. Personally I am very familiar with Public Eyesore which has released music by some of my favorite artists since about 2001.

On Discogs, this is often listed as "Jazz", "Experimental" or "Free Improvisation" which I feel like are pretty generic terms. While sounding unique I hear a lot of Musique Concrète influences. Flying Falling is a slow-moving scrape and dirge with various instruments being played in a non-traditional manner and distorted sounds of metal being rubbed and scraped to build a beautiful sonic experiment. Everything is laid out very well and you can tell the performers have experience in mixing these methods of sound generation together.

This release is extremely chill and relaxing and shouldn't be missed by purveyors of experimental music.