Eamon Harkin and Justin Carter

"Weekends and Beginnings"

Release date: 17 November 2014

8/10

Eamon Harkin and Justin Carter Weekends and Beginnings

12 November 2014, 11:30 | Written by Kate Travers

(Albums)

(Eamon Harkin and Justin Carter)

Eamon Harkin and Justin Carter, better known as Mr Saturday Night/Mr Sunday, have made a career out knowing how to throw a banging party. Their saturday nights, or summer sunday afternoon sessions, have amassed loyal followings in both New York and London thanks to their knack for crafting the perfect party atmos. Take their recent Mr Halloween Night bash in NYC, held in the “Masonic Temple of Doom” (yes, in a real Masonic temple in the deep, dark depths of Brooklyn) the DJs donned Indiana Jones-style hats and a giant inflatable boulder was released onto the heads of costumed ravers. The test of this debut mix is whether it can translate the Mr Saturday Night spirit into a one hour twenty minute party in your pocket… Is that even possible?

The Weekends and Beginnings mix was recorded live at a Mister Sunday session in August and weaves its way from French chanson - “La Passion des Collines” by Le Chanteur - to disco, through to house and back again. Maurice Fulton's remix of Alice Smith's “Love Endeavour” and Mr G's “Daily Prayer” bookend some high-pass filter heavy house, in the form of Cobblestone Jazz' “Traffic Jam” and Nebraska's “Green Marimba”. These tracks, beautiful in their minimalism, are slammed up against joyful deep house and disco - which either makes for a breathtaking juxtaposition, or makes it feel like they are going on forever, depending on your mood.

This swerving and side stepping from genre to genre is something that the Mr Saturday Night guys do well, it's what gives their sets that eclectic charm. On the other hand, this does mean that it is not a mix you could throw at an unsuspecting audience at your own house party. What if they are not ready for a segue into industrial house, or a ten minute chill out section? Weekends and Beginnings refuses to be background music: it drags you from one musical mindset to another and you have no choice but to follow.

So, how should you approach this mix? Well, this brings us back around to the question we asked earlier: in as much as any recorded mix can ever replicate the noise, sweat and beers of a real party, Weekends and Beginnings does a pretty great job of encapsulating the Mr Saturday Night experience – which makes it pretty perfect to listen to with friends and relive those nights or sunny afternoons. And if you're curious as to what all the fuss is about, it's a great taster, a casual introduction, if you will, to Mr Saturday Night - and trust me, he's the kind of guy you really want to get to know.