York’s own Messy Eater arrived on our blog in October 2024 through his debut track, Feels Good.

By Graeme Smith

Obviously, I was enamoured by the fact that the project was a local one, but more so I was intrigued by its proposition. Pete Bott, the man behind it, loves to combine illustration and music in a way akin to Gorillaz. He also creates a quirky indie pop sound of which Beck would be proud.

Two further singles were to follow Feels Good. Both I’m A Mess Right Now and Work Life Balance also featured on this blog. Now all three tracks have been gathered together, alongside a previously unreleased one, to give us Messy Eater’s debut EP, Starters.

Its new lead track Shake It, Drop It gets things going, and feels like the boldest effort to date. A vibrant dance beat evokes the best of ’90s techno while the laidback vocals temper things. There’s a groove that never lets up. If you don’t find yourself moving along, then you’re a stronger one than I. Just as you get a measure of it, the beat switches up for a powerful, gospel finish.

I’m A Mess Right Now gives us some Talking Heads-esque languid pop while Feels Good gives us some driving hedonism. Work Life Balance closes the EP in catchy, throwback style.

Starters is out now and you can give it a listen below.