As promised a few months ago, we have this new album from Montreal’s indie jazz-funk outfit, Men I Trust. Equus Caballus follows up Equus Asinus from March, dropping just in time for the group’s appearance at Montreal Jazz Fest in late June, early July. Equus Caballus follows the chill vibes from the March album, but has a few more legs than the soft-spoken, almost folky Equus Asinus, which don’t get me wrong, was a fantastic addition to the Men I Trust catalogue.
The opener of …Caballus, “To Ease You,” immediately sets the funky tone, feeling like a post-breakup meeting during a summer’s rain, Emma’s voice again dropping into your ears like a long-lost friend. It’s a very ’80s disco-sounding album that has hooks galore, like the slinky pitch-shifted synth hook on “Come Back Down,” or the slacker rock guitar arpeggios on “Husk.”
There are a few more minor-keyed, dare I say darker (a weird descriptor for Men I Trust) tracks on the later third of this album, like “Carried Away” and the undisputed post-punk banger single “Billy Toppy,” which was first released in 2023. “Billy Toppy” still has the funky chill beats vibe, but comes with a bit more teeth sometimes feeling like something from the new wave Brooklyn post-punks Pylon, which seems like a logical next step for Men I Trust. This vibe continues on the “The Better Half,” which might be the heaviest we’ve ever heard from Men I Trust. Can you imagine some distortion on their wonky indie jams? We get close with the grooving ear worm, “Worn Down.” Emma’s vocals really suit the bummery post-punk vibe so I hope the groups decides to further explore this feeling in a release.
