Notes From the Underground: iNSiDEaMiND's 'FragMental'

Artist: iNSiDEaMiND
Album: FragMental
Release Date: late 2006
Label: Public Transit Recordings

When one thinks of turntablists from the Great White North, most would immediately think of the hyperkinetic Kid Koala, but no, he ain't the only one with wheels of steel in the land of ice and snow. Toronto's iNSiDEaMiND is composed of Professor Fingers and Steptone and their flavor of scratch magic is much more mellow, ambient, and atmospheric than the battle-DJ mentality that seems to dominate the turntable scene.

I'm not sure how I'd feel about seeing their EP, FragMental, performed live as it is so much like a soundtrack - but listening to it on my interminable commute home was more than pleasant. The opening track is a bit of a throwaway intro to iNSiDEaMiND but this jumps into the almost Coldcut-y 'Laughing life', the best tune on the EP IMHO.
Buzz your way through the nearly ambient 'Bee love' and then you're sent off into space with 'Twinkle twinkle' and 'What's your excuse for being late?' Devotees of club DJing are going to be disappointed with the downtempo pace and if this was a full-length album iNSiDEaMiND would have to have a couple tracks with a bit more juice in them but I have no complaints to this limited exposure and look forward to their next efforts. [Below is 'Laughing life]