Canadian pop-electronican James DiSalvio, better known as Bran Van 3000, has finally finished his sophomore album following eighteen months of multi-national, star-packed recording sessions.

Discosis, slated for a late spring/early summer release via Grand Royal Records, will be BV3's first offering since 1998's Glee, which spawned the danceable hit "Drinking In L.A."

The fourteen-track record was principally recorded at New York's Electric Ladyland Studios with further sessions in Los Angeles, London, Senegal and DiSalvio's native Montreal. Producing the album alongside DiSalvio was ex-Car turned production whiz Ric Ocasek (Weezer, Guided By Voices).

Of particular interest in the album is "Astounded," a soulful hook mixed by Mark "Spike" Stent (Massive Attack , Bjork) and featuring a previously unreleased vocal track from the late funk/soul legend Curtis Mayfield. DiSalvio completed a raw working version of the tune in late 1999, scant months before Mayfield's death at age 57. A professed fanatic of Mayfield, DiSalvio felt Mayfield's voice was the tune's missing piece.

Paralyzed since a 1990 accident and suffering from advanced diabetes, Mayfield, at the time, was far too ill to actually record anything live for Bran Van. When played the rough cut of "Astounded" however, he was impressed enough to allow DiSalvio to pick through his vast musical vaults. There DiSalvio discovered a previously unreleased version of "Move On Up," recorded after the initial sessions for Mayfield's 1970 landmark soul album Curtis, his first album after splitting the Impressions. The alternate take featured a radically reworked melody line of the anthem that fit perfectly into the "Astounded" groove. Sadly, Mayfield would never hear the completed track, as he died weeks after giving DiSalvio clearance for his rare gem.

"Astounded" should find its way to European dancefloors in the coming months in its album form, and as reworked by French DJ Demon and the U.K.'s MJ Cole. As originally recorded, "Move On Up" was Mayfield's biggest hit in the U.K., so expect clubs there to erupt when spun the single.

Other guests appearing on Discosis include old school rap impresario Big Daddy Kane, eclectic Scottish artiste Momus, dancehall legend Eek-A-Mouse and Senegalese singer/percussionist Youssou N'Dour, for whom the DiSalvio and the production crew made a special trip to Africa. The sprawling band DiSalvio has used for past tours helped with a handful of tracks, singers Sara Johnston and Jayne Hill in particular playing key roles.

GREG HELLER
(January 11, 2001)