Give An Inch

\"Give An Inch\" is a track by Indian violinist and composer L. Shankar. The composition appears as the eighth track on his 1986 studio album The Epidemics, released by ECM Records GmbH on 12\" vinyl. The piece runs for 3 minutes and 24 seconds.

The album The Epidemics marked Shankar’s continued exploration of fusion between Carnatic classical traditions and Western jazz-rock elements. The recording sessions featured Shankar on double violin, a custom ten-string instrument he developed, alongside collaborations with session musicians whose identities remain partially undocumented in primary sources. The label ECM Records, known for its production of avant-garde and world music, distributed the release in Europe and North America.

Stylistically, \"Give An Inch\" exemplifies Shankar’s integration of rapid gamaka-inspired phrasing with electric instrumentation and rhythmic structures drawn from funk and progressive rock. The track’s title does not correspond to a traditional raga or classical form, suggesting an original composition. No lyricists or vocalists are credited for the piece, indicating an instrumental focus.

Critical reception of The Epidemics at the time noted its departure from Shankar’s earlier works like Who’s to Know (1981), though specific reviews of \"Give An Inch\" are not widely archived. The album’s vinyl format included no liner notes detailing the track’s creative process or thematic intent. Subsequent reissues or digital remasters of The Epidemics have not been officially confirmed by ECM Records as of the latest available catalogs.

Shankar’s collaboration with ECM during this period positioned him among a roster of artists blending global musical traditions with contemporary studio techniques. The label’s signature production aesthetic—characterized by spacious mixing and dynamic clarity—is audible in the track’s engineering. Further contextual details about the recording location, additional performers, or alternate takes remain unverified in public records.