Probably his most experimental effort,
Inside Out saw
John Martyn's work with the Echoplex become a linchpin in his overall sound. His voice, which was transforming with each recording, also became more of an instrument, developing at times a rough, bluesy quality and slipping further and further into a jazz-like slur. The album, which features
Steve Winwood and Chris Wood of
Traffic, as well as long time cohort
Danny Thompson, balances smoldering tunes like "Ways to Cry" and "Fine Lines" with fiery, hypnotic excursions with the Echoplex, such as "Make No Mistake" and "Look In." Some of his fan base may have felt alienated by the strange flights of
Inside Out, but it's proven to be an important record in
Martyn's oeuvre. ~ Brett Hartenbach