Recorded at Detroit's United Sound Studios -- the petri dish where
George Clinton concocted his most mind-boggling
Funkadelic outings --
Eddie Russ' fusion cult classic
See the Light operates on a cosmic wavelength all its own, embracing otherworldly synthesizers, squelching basslines, and orchestral electronics to create a shimmering jazz-funk-disco hybrid that eludes simple genre definition. Supported by Motor City stalwarts including trumpeter
Marcus Belgrave and saxophonist
Larry Nozero,
Russ channels the keyboard wizardry of
Herbie Hancock and
Lonnie Liston Smith, but for all its astral aspirations, the music is surprisingly street-smart as well. The title cut is an epic rendition of the
Earth, Wind & Fire song, and "Zauis" courts the dancefloor via Latin-inspired rhythms and breathtaking solos that build to an orgasmic climax. [
See the Light was reissued on CD in 2008 as part of a Soul Brother two-fer alongside its follow-up,
Take a Look at Yourself.]