Score: 4/5
Being the first installation of a two-album conceptual project from Men I Trust this year, Equus Asinus is a tranquil work that matches the band’s well-worked sound.
Men I Trust, a Canadian indie band from Québec City, released their fourth studio album Equus Asinus on March 19, with its counterpart Equus Caballus still awaiting release.
The album sonically matches what can be heard across Men I Trust’s discography: simple rhythmic tracks dominated by soft chords and the light voice of lead singer and guitarist Emma Proulx.
The album’s first track “I Come With Mud” opens with a minute-and-a-half long intro of simple, repeated guitar chords backlit by a consistent, soft beat before Proulx begins her vocals.
The long intro is effective in establishing the slow nature of the album, with many tracks drifting through dozens of seconds of instrumentals between vocal takes — which isn’t out of the ordinary for the band, especially when looking at earlier albums like Oncle Jazz, released in 2019.
There are several songs that shine through on Equus Asinus, placing themselves as lovely additions to Men I Trust’s discography.
Among my favourite tracks on the album, “All My Candles” stands out as a sonically delicate yet deeply introspective cut. Although the lyrics ponder the malleability of one’s character, the lighter and sometimes playful strings in the background accompanied by incredibly delicate drums make the track feel softer than its lyrical content suggests.
“The Landkeeper” brings an equally soft listening experience. Backgrounded by dreamy instrumentals, the lyrics describe a “home away from home” with “morning dew on cherry trees.”
Although Men I Trust’s sound is easily identifiable, I would argue that the album staying faithful to their core sonic style works in favour of the band. Even though Men I Trust’s listeners can expect their distinct, delicate sound, each song employs this sound in its own individualized way, even if many of the songs are threaded together by similar, soft beats which guide the tracks in the background.
Although the album largely reflects Men I Trust’s customary sound, it also includes some experimental tracks which make the album distinct.
One of these experimental tracks is “Moon 2,” which employs disjointed keyboard and string instrumentals that swing back and forth in pitch, eliciting a similar effect to an overused whammy bar.
“What Matters Most” also takes a slightly different approach from Men I Trust’s overall sound, including more distinct jazzy piano instrumentals while the rhythmic hum of a record player floats over the track.
Overall, Equus Asinus continues the softness of Men I Trust’s discography in fresh ways, creating another lovely listening experience from the indie band and fueling anticipation for the album’s companion LP to follow later in 2025.