With 100,000 voices opening out this album and a flurry of genres, instruments, choir performances and monologues, Djesse 4 shines bright with rock ballads, R&B, Jazz fusion influences and hell lot of collaborations!
Very few musical artists have the woven heritage of sound that Jacob Collier has. Grandson of violinist Derek Collier of the Royal Academy of Music’s (RAM) Orchestra. Son of Susie Collier, conductor and violin first chair at RAM. I won’t be surprised if his first mittens were cymbals.
With this supposed, well, nepotism laced path laid out for him, he could have been anything. What he has chosen to do with it however, is far more impressive. Jacob Collier loves music. He’ll make sure you do too.
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This is the fourth instalment of his Djesse series. From the first volume, where he composed, wrote, played and produced everything-he has come a long way. Exciting collaborations with musicians all over the world is his favourite thing to do. His audience choir idea is genius, knowing that his audience comprises mostly musicians. The way he strings in and out of microtones is enviable. His collection of plush clothing soothes even my back itch. What’s there to hate about this guy who loves music so much? I’ll tell you. The way he uses the resources at his disposal.
When you hear 100,000 voices opening out this album, there is a hint of ambient secrecy that whispers the foreshadowing of the album. Ignore it all, for there is an internet level tsunami that will crash your headphones. Like your social media front page, there is a flurry of genres, instruments, choir performances and monologues. Jacob Collier has the gauntlet that controls it all. He also likes having fun with it.
Then comes the care he takes in all of his songs. Though there is a metal breakdown (oh hell yes) at the end of 100,000 voices, he ensures it is an element of surprise. When he does suddenly turn away from a flow, he curates the undercurrent to still guide you along. If there is silence, it’s for the feel to flow in place. It is like watching the Last Airbender of music analyse it all, and then do what his heart wants.
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Solo songs like WELLL, and She Put Sunshine are like poetic musings he has had in the studio. They are sweet love songs, but can turn to rock ballads in a switch. Famous singles like Little Blue (feat. Brandi Carlile) are tucked in the middle to continue the enigmatic piece he creates. R&B tunes like Cinnamon Crush will change seasons in a flicker. Recreations of classics are treated with respect, while seeing the different directions he can take a melody. John Legend’s voice has never sounded so well utilized like in Bridge Over Troubled Water. That’s the other big thing to talk about.
When he’s touring and making music, Jacob makes the audience part of his music process. The chorus in the end of Little Blue are snips from audience performances from his world tour. If he thinks a song will sound better with a different performer, he will make it happen. He tends to the song, not his ego of being this lovable musical porcupine with perfect pitch and cheery energy. He composes with all the knowledge he has, sure, but he knows there are non-musicians listening as well.
There are sleeves that entertain all his fans as well but. Sudden microtone explosions. Layered complementing chord progressions. Shifts from the scale only to return in smug jazz fashion. With the number of collaborations he has had, he might have met everyone from the business. It’s inspiring to see that he hasn’t let it change him. He’ll still play, that is what he loves doing.
There are conceptual songs that are split into parts, like Box of Stars, but they are nothing but entertaining. Jacob Collier is a beaming source of inspiration and joy to many, and he will continue to be. Djesse Vol. 4 is easily one of his best, though thematically they aren’t comparable. This one has far more of a “celebrity weight” attached to it, and that’s fine. Jacob Collier is by skill already at the top, he just has the contacts now to make it work better.
In this double album treat Jacob Collier makes, it is interesting to observe what all he has accomplished. He wants everyone to be able to at least understand the attempt. He has Logic Breakdown sessions on YouTube, spending hours in explaining why he took certain composition decisions. It is boggling to watch the parts you don’t understand, as he is a good teacher as well. His interaction with the internet are well deocumented with WIRED, where he explains music in different scales of difficulty. To genres like jazz which have had mighty gatekeepers, he shows you the rabbit hole that can take you to a whole other place. When all this technology is taking over the industry, he knows how to blend talents.
I guess what this means is that Jacob Collier loves music. He’ll make sure you do too.
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Self professed metalhead, moderately well read. If the music has soul, it's whole to me. The fact that my bio could have ended on a rhyme and doesn't should tell you a lot about my personality.
