Men I Trust Lean Into the Haze of Equus Caballus
Nate Kline
Written by Nate Kline in Sonic Journeys Music

Men I Trust Lean Into the Haze of Equus Caballus

I spent a lot of time with Equus Caballus without really noticing it at first.

That’s kind of the magic trick Men I Trust have been refining for years. Their music slips in quietly, sits somewhere in the background, and then, almost without warning, you realize it’s been carrying more weight than you gave it credit for.

By the time Equus Caballus landed in 2025, the band had already carved out a space that’s hard to pin down but instantly recognizable. Soft-focus dream pop, sure—but there’s always been something more deliberate underneath it. This record feels like the moment where everything sharpens just enough without losing that haze.

Letting the atmosphere do the work

What stands out here is how intentional the album feels. Where Equus Asinus drifted a little too far into the background, Equus Caballus finds a pulse and sticks with it. There’s a subtle energy running through tracks like “To Ease You” and “Where I Sit,” built on shimmering synths and gently off-kilter guitar lines that keep things from becoming too comfortable.

“Billie Toppy,” which had already been floating around before the album, fits right into that balance. It’s catchy without being loud about it, detailed without demanding your attention. That’s kind of the sweet spot Men I Trust operate in.

MenITrust_COVER
Somewhere between feeling and distance

Lyrically, not much has changed—and that’s a good thing. Emmanuelle Proulx’s voice stays just out of reach, offering glimpses of love, longing, and uncertainty without ever spelling things out. It’s enough to set a mood, not enough to define it.

And that’s really what this album leans into. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is over-explained. Songs unfold at their own pace, building a kind of emotional space rather than chasing big moments.

The kind of record that stays

A year later, Equus Caballus still feels like something you return to without thinking about it too much. Not because it demands attention, but because it fits into the spaces where other albums try too hard to stand out. It lingers in a different way, settling in slowly until it becomes part of your regular rotation without you even noticing.

You may also like

Related posts

Scroll