Djesse Vol. 2

Released in 2019, Djesse Vol. 2 is the second installment of Jacob Collier's ambitious four-part project. While Vol. 1 focused on the sound of a large orchestra, Vol. 2 shifts toward an 'acoustic' and 'earthy' aesthetic, drawing heavily from folk, jazz, and world music traditions. The album is notable for its high-profile collaborations, including Lianne La Havas, Dodie, and JoJo, yet it remains a singular vision directed by Collier's home-studio production. Central to the album's identity is Collier's use of microtonality and just intonation, most famously showcased in his reimagining of 'Moon River', which features over 140 vocal tracks from various artists. Critics, including those at AllMusic, highlighted the album's incredible technical proficiency and its softer, more organic palette compared to his earlier work. It represents a pivotal moment in Collier's career where his maximalist tendencies were successfully applied to more intimate, song-oriented structures.