Katy J Pearson - Sound Of The Morning (LP) - Clear Vinyl

Katy J Pearson’s second album, Sound Of The Morning, landed on 8 July 2022 via Heavenly Recordings, and it still feels like a sunrise you can hold in your hands. Where her debut, Return, wore a faint country tint, this one kicks off the dust and stretches into brighter pop terrain. She split production duties between Ali Chant and Dan Carey, and you can hear the handover as clearly as a relay baton. Chant’s work brings warmth and space, the sort of glow you associate with Bristol’s indie scene, while Carey tightens the screws, nudging certain tracks toward a lean, kinetic pulse. It’s a smart pairing that makes the record feel varied without losing its thread.

The opener sets the tone with a gentle exhale, then “Talk Over Town” arrives like a proper single should. It’s buoyant but edged with that classic Pearson ache, the kind that makes you wonder who she’s singing to even as you hum along before the second chorus. “Alligator” snaps harder, guitar lines darting around a melody that refuses to sit still. You get a rush of nerve and clarity here, the sense of an artist claiming her lane. “Game of Cards” plays it cooler, stacked with harmonies that coil around the rhythm in quietly satisfying ways. Pearson’s voice remains the anchor across the lot, a clear, bell-like instrument that can fold a lyric back on itself with a small twist of phrasing.

She talked in interviews about wanting to shake off the Americana tag from the first album and lean into pop instincts, and you can hear that intention pay off. The synth details sparkle without crowding the room. Guitars shimmer then step back when the vocal needs air. Carey’s touch is especially vivid on the more urgent cuts, where the drums feel closer and the low end keeps everything moving. Chant, long a go-to for Bristol artists, lets the songs breathe until they glow. It’s not showy craft, just dependable choices that serve Pearson’s melodies.

Critics cottoned on quickly. The Guardian and NME both gave Sound Of The Morning four stars, and the general consensus pegged it as a step up. That tracks with the way the album moves. It’s confident but not cocky, curious but not fussy. Even on a quieter number, she finds a hook and tucks it neatly into place. You can imagine these songs holding a small room rapt, or floating across a festival field just as the sun drops and phones light up.

Spinning Sound Of The Morning vinyl really pulls the threads together. The top end has a nice glassy sheen, while the bass sits warm and round, which suits the way these mixes are built. Pearson’s vocal rides the centre like a guide rope. If you’re crate digging for Katy J Pearson vinyl, this one rewards a good, loud play on a Saturday arvo. It pairs well with an open window and a cup of tea you’ll forget to finish.

There’s a pull to the songwriting that sticks after the needle lifts. Pearson writes choruses that bloom rather than explode, and that patience pays off. The melodies work on you across a few listens, then you realise you’ve been humming them in the queue at the bakery. The sequencing helps too. She knows when to let the mood drift and when to snap it back, so the album feels like a proper journey rather than a string of singles.

If you’re looking to buy Katy J Pearson records online, Sound Of The Morning is the easy entry point, and it sits nicely next to her debut if you’re building out the set. For anyone browsing Katy J Pearson albums on vinyl in a Melbourne record store, keep an eye on the Heavenly spine and you’ll spot it quick. Shops stocking new indie pop tend to file it near fellow UK travellers, which is apt, though Pearson’s voice is its own thing. For folks hunting vinyl records Australia wide, this title has stayed in print since release, which tells you something about its steady pull.

In a year stacked with big statements, this album won hearts by feeling human. It’s a record that trusts the listener, trusts a melody, and trusts that pop can be luminous without losing its nerve. Sound Of The Morning vinyl captures that balance beautifully, and it’s the kind of LP you’ll keep within reach. Put it on when the house is quiet and the light’s just right, and you’ll hear why those four-star reviews felt like the most natural thing in the world.