Care Package

A care package of pandemic era Floating Fish Studios releases for Tommy T Rapisardi at DSBP Records.

FISHCD013 - Imbued Vagary - Solstice
FISHCD014 - Any Questions? - Illegitimate Release 1990 (Special Edition)
FISHCD015 - Imbued Vagary - Captured Moments 2
FISHCD016 - Imbued Vagary - Live 2
FISHCD017 - Imbued Vagary - Noise 2
FISHCD018 - Imbued Vagary - Wheels of Steel
FISHCD019 - Imbued Vagary - Captured Moments 3
FISHCD020 - Imbued Vagary - Noise 3
FISHCD021 - Any Questions? - Don't Ask (Special Edition)
FISHCD022 - Any Questions? - Darkness (Special Edition)
FISHCD023 - Imbued Vagary - nIVg
FISHCD024 - The Secret Society
FISHCD025 - Vizator - Land of Glass Towers (Demos 1990)

Vizator CD Unboxing

More Vizator - Land of Glass Towers (Demos 1990) CDs have arrived!  If you haven’t ordered your copy, you can get them here.

Vizator CDs have arrived!

The Vizator - Land of Glass Towers (Demos 1990) CDs have arrived!  Official release date is 01/20/23.  If you haven’t ordered your copy, you can get them here.

Vizator - Land of Glass Towers (Demos 1990) CD

Vizator - Land of Glass Towers (Demos 1990) CD and Digital Album scheduled for release on 01/20/23.

Release Notes:
Before the Industrial music of Any Questions? and the Electronic music of Imbued Vagary, Ttam Troll (Matthew R Norcross) and mC2p4 (M Scott McConnell) were part of a Fusion Rock band called Vizator (later to be renamed Vyzator).  Joining Vizator's founding band members David S Irish and Carlton Holt, this lineup's sole performance was at the prestigious CitiParks Showcase Mondays concert at Oliver Plaza in Pittsburgh, PA on August 07, 1989.

After the August 1989 Vizator performance, Ttam Troll and mC2p4 left the band and relocated to Philadelphia, PA to form Any Questions? and Imbued Vagary.  David S Irish and Carlton Holt carried on as Vizator's sole members and began working on demos for a CD release.

In early 1990, David and Carlton reached out to Matt to see if he'd be interested in laying down electric bass parts for the forthcoming Vizator CD.  Matt had not yet been involved with any CD projects and jumped at the chance to get back together with his former bandmates and do some recording.  The music contained on Vizator - Land of Glass Towers (Demos 1990) are from those recording sessions which took place on March 10-11, 1990.  These instrumental demos were eventually scrapped and the band re-recorded the songs using synth bass for the final Vyzator - Land of Glass Towers CD which was released in 1991.  However, these early demos show what could have been if the band followed their instrumental power trio Fusion Rock leanings.  That was not meant to be and this became the final artifact of Vizator.  Enjoy!

Track Listing:
01 Ready to Deal (Irish) 4:02
02 Trapped Inside This Maniac (Irish) 5:48
03 The Chase (Irish/Holt) 3:56
04 Club 54 (Irish/Hutter) 4:52
05 Land of Glass Towers (Irish) 5:00

Vizator members:
David S Irish - Guitars and Synthesizers
Matt Norcross - Bass
Carlton Holt - Drums

Recorded March 10-11, 1990 in Pittsburgh PA

Mastered by Tommy T Rapisardi at DSBP Records

Cover Photo, CD Design, and Layout by Matthew R Norcross

Copyright ©2023 Floating Fish Music

FISHCD025

info@floatingfish.com | www.floatingfish.com

Vizator Band Photo

Taken from a Vizator photo shoot.  Members Dave Irish (Front: Center - Lead Vocals & Guitars), M Scott McConnell (Back: Left - Synthesizers & Maracas), Carlton Holt (Back: Center - Drums and Vocals), and Matt Norcross (Back: Right - Bass & Synthesizers) styling between a stone gate in a Pittsburgh PA park.

Another Behind the Scenes Moment with Vizator

Vizator members Dave Irish (Center - Lead Vocals & Guitars), Matt Norcross (Left - Bass & Synthesizers), and M Scott McConnell (Right - Synthesizers & Maracas) sharing a laugh while setting up at PPG Plaza in downtown Pittsburgh, PA (Summer 1989).  

One audience member obviously doesn’t find us amusing.  See if you can spot him.  It’s your Martin Luther King Jr. Day Challenge.

Behind the Scenes with Vizator

Vizator members Carlton Holt (Drums & Vocals), Dave Irish (Lead Vocals & Guitars), Matt Norcross (Bass & Synthesizers), and M Scott McConnell (Synthesizers & Maracas) setting up at PPG Plaza in downtown Pittsburgh, PA (Summer 1989).

A work day lunch crowd gathers in the background adorned in all of their best late ’80s fashion.

We Are Vizator

Vizator members Dave Irish (Lead Vocals & Guitars), Matt Norcross (Bass & Synthesizers), and Carlton Holt (Drums & Vocals) perform at PPG Plaza in downtown Pittsburgh, PA (Summer 1989).

Studio Line from L'Oréal Part 2

Vizator bassist/synthesist Matt Norcross performs at PPG Plaza in downtown Pittsburgh, PA (Summer 1989). Another photo from my Studio Line from L'Oréal period.

P.S. Thanks to Mitzi Moyer and her sister for taking this picture.

Vizator - Ready To Deal (Live)

Since I didn't have a chance to post as many Ttam Troll Plays Bass Week entries as I wanted to last week, I thought that I would extend the fun for another week. I hope you continue to enjoy some of my bass playing adventures.

This live performance video of Vizator playing Ready To Deal was recorded at PPG Plaza in Pittsburgh, PA in Summer 1989. This is the first and only Vizator live performance to feature Matt Norcross - Bass & Synthesizers and M Scott McConnell - Synthesizers & Maracas. Other members of this line up included Dave Irish - Lead Vocals & Guitars and Carlton Holt - Drums & Vocals.

On one very hot August day in Summer 1989, we descended upon downtown Pittsburgh, PA into the Land of Glass Towers to play a City Parks Showcase Monday show. We started our hour long set with a song titled Ready To Deal. As you'll see and hear, we had some "problems" during this song but I'm sharing it with you because it is one of the better sounding selections mix-wise.

We started off the song very tentatively and quickly noticed that the sequenced keyboards parts were out of sync with the rest of the band. Dave gave Scott "the look" and then Scott stopped the sequencer just in time before the beginning of the first verse. At this point, Carlton and I locked in our rhythmic groove with the hopes that all else would be well. Unfortunately, that didn't turn out to be the case. Our mullet wearing band leader, Dave, was not in top form on this day. His "control freak" nature had taken its toll on him. After spending hours with the set up of our stage show, he was simply "out of it". At times, it sounds like he's channeling Satchmo with his singing. As for his guitar playing, well, you'll hear his "issues" during the guitar solo (and elsewhere)!

Nonetheless, it was a fun show and I'm glad that we did it. You can click here to read more backstory about the band and Vizator Summer 1989.

P.S. Be sure to look and listen for Scott playing the maracas. It's not something that you want to miss.

Beach Blanket Troll

I thought that I would continue with the vacation/beach theme from yesterday's blog post. It's snowy and cold here in the Northeast so some thoughts of Summer may be just what we all need.

In early Summer 1988, I went to Ocean City, MD with the Ocker family for a fun and relaxing trip. Late at night, I took the opportunity to stroll the beaches alone. Sometimes listening to the waves and sometimes listening to my Walkman. It was during these strolls that I first had the idea for writing a song that would sonically capture the sound of a listless ocean along with the power and elegance of the waves as they crashed upon the shore. This was not a novel idea but for an 18yr kid (excuse me, man) it provided enough stimulus for a creative spark to be ignited.

It took about a year before I fully realized this idea but here I present to you the live version of Floundering In A Sea of Digital Waves as performed by Vizator at the PPG Plaza in Pittsburgh, PA (Summer of 1989). While listening, please try to ignore the incessant guitar synth flute soloing which is going on. It is NOT part of the song I wrote.

P.S. Thank you to Tonya Ocker for capturing this picture of me with "Bedhead".

Studio Line from L'Oréal

Vizator members Matt Norcross (C) and Dave Irish (R) perform at PPG Plaza in downtown Pittsburgh, PA (Summer 1989).  This was during my Studio Line from L'Oréal period.  In contrast, Dave was in full on mullet mode.

P.S. Thanks to Mitzi Moyer and her sister for taking this picture.