Since Phish went on hiatus in October of 2000, it’s well worth arguing that with his multiple creative endeavors, bassist Mike Gordon just might have easily become the Michelangelo of the band(no pun intended). Along with his fiction writing, a couple movies- one documentary – Rising Low- and his first full-length feature film – Outside Out, Gordon managed to record a soundtrack inspired release to this film from 2000. Unlike "Clone," his recent grounded folk witted collaboration with Leo Kottke, Inside In is a voyage into the manifestation of Gordon’s spiritual connection with music.
Written in a format in which Gordon wanted his ideas to unfold like unique dreams in the same night, or parts of the same dream where you’re in different setttings, each song in "Inside In" becomes drastically deviant. With the help of a list of big shots, how could that not be the case? Gordon’s dream team includes: Jeff Coffin, Bela Fleck, Buddy Cage, Vassar Clements, Future Man, Gordon Stone, Col Bruce Hampton, Jon Fishman, and James Harvey showcasing their talents in a spindle of lyrical based tunes and instrumentals, with the pedal steel setting the tone inside and out.
The second number, "Bone Delay," grooves with a Phishy intro- built upon Russ Lawton’s lively beats and Stone’s pinching pedal steel moans, giving the otherwise standard groove a couple minutes of unpredictability. "Beltless Buckler," a mysterious pop tune, is perhaps the strongest on the album, with Stone laying down more eclectic lines, eliciting a hallucinatory vibe over Gordon’s spoken words. The feel good bounce of "Soul Food Man" is amusing the first couple of listens, but later drowns in an uninspiring puddle, with its white boy cow funk, and a prolonged beat towards the end that begs for a thematic clap along.
The film inspired tunes such as "Outside Out," "The Lesson" and "The Teacher" are touched up enough with multi-textured instrumentation to bring images of the movie to life. "Couch Lady" soaks in a familiar country/bluegrass harmony, a rollicking number with a refreshing Latin beat in addition to a tasty solo on the electric guitar by Gordon, who in fact plays every six-string and electric guitar on the record. Bela Fleck’s banjo narration blossoms "Steel Bones" fron an island flavored groove, towards a psychedelic rush, providing the song an adventurous fusion quality.
Although the movie Outside Out was released to mixed reviews, Inside In should be considered a separate entity, as it includes fresh versions of the music written for the movie and new pieces inspired by the film’s themes. Inside In proves Gordon is becoming more comfortable as a band-leader, guitar player and songwriter, while successfully allowing his visions to fall into fruition.
