Time to check out some of Buckethead's side projects. Not doing these in any particular order, although I'm starting with the Travis Dickerson stuff since I really like Population Override.
Chicken Noodles - Right off the bat, there are soundscapes added by Dickerson and his keyboards that create a new dimension to Buckethead's sound. Love the way the two instruments blend. The first track is mostly rhodes piano and guitar but some synthesizers and more processed guitar sounds come in later on, but they creep in so naturally that it's not distracting at all. Some great melodic work and improvised chord progressions. There's lots of variety in the album even though it's supposedly based on one song from Population Override. In typical Buckethead fashion, they took a basic idea and found a seemingly endless amount of possibilities with that idea. Fantastic album. These guys have amazing musical chemistry. Such a great mellow work.
Chicken Noodles II - So far this seems to be a little more groovy with some bluesier riffing. There's still no shortage of atmosphere and musical chemistry, although I prefer the previous album. Still this is good stuff and the sort of thing I wish Buckethead would do more of. I'd take these little guitar/piano duets over the more generic Pikes any day.
BTW Oyster Crackers kinda reminds me of Eat That Question by Frank Zappa. Similar kind of bluesy riff and rhodes/guitar combo.