Bristolian singer-songwriter Katy J Pearson has a voice that grows on you. Initially a keening, nasal twang, over the course of her work the 26-year-old’s vocals have traversed everything from lilting Americana to tripping pop melodies to heartfelt, storytelling folk. It’s a voice that captivates. While Pearson’s 2020 debut, Return, was pigeonholed as country, owing to its soft register and double-denim aesthetic, this follow-up embraces a vibrant and unexpected set of new sounds. The opening title track lulls the listener into a false sense of familiarity, with its finger-picking guitar and Pearson’s falsetto melody expounding on the beauties of dawn, before Talk Over Town kicks into a driving indie pop hook. Highlights such as the horn fanfares on Howl (featuring Orlando Weeks) are followed by the yearning melodies of Float and the synth-pop of Alligator, which take the listener through a range of danceable genres, each given cohesion through Pearson’s voice. Pearson wears her talents lightly on an album that allows space for them to breathe. Sound of the Morning is a remarkably mature record; hopefully, future releases will be just as absorbing.