Romantic Poetics in Men I Trust’s ‘Equus Asinus’

Canadian band Men I Trust has returned after a four year absence with “Equus Asinus,” released March 19. 

The first of two Equus albums, “Equus Asinus” — the scientific term for a domesticated donkey — brings the band back to the forefront of the indie, dream-pop genre. The second album, “Equus Caballus,” is set to be released before the group begins their North American and European tour, according to their website. 

Opening the album with a summertime twang, “I Come With Mud” is a Romantic-era poem — complete with lines on love and nature — for modern listeners. Lead singer Emmanuelle Proulx breaks the instrumental-induced daze with smooth vocals. 

“The breath of earth calls to me / Whispers soothe tenderly / Touched with interest, I see / Nature’s grace, bound to be,” Proulx sings. 

Light instrumentals continue the daze in “All My Candles.” Proulx’s soft voice carries an ambivalent sense of reflection — a tension between regret and letting the past fade. 

“Bethlehem” oozes with whimsy — a soft wind instrument mimics the height of Proulx’s voice, guiding it from beginning to end with rattlers and strings. The lyricism continues the band’s poetic nature, leaving their poetics to be heavily dissected and re-interpreted upon each listen. 

I see myself / Beyond deadlands / Where trees of health / Void lines of age / No sullen air / No requiem / In Bethlehem,” Proulx sings. 

Fingerpicking takes the mainstage against Proulx’s voice in “Frost Bite.” Howling wind bookends the track, showcasing the song’s theme of everlasting nature and its self-preservation over man-created religion and buildings. 

“What kind of marvel could heal / My hardly steering heels? / Here no more crucifix or naves / Cypress are standing,” Proulx sings. 

“Heavenly Flow” is a love song in its purest form. Returning to their poetic lyricism, Men I Trust compares the all-consuming love of another to heavenly peace. Strumming guitar and velvety cymbals develop an enchanting accompaniment to the romantic lyrics.   

Shifting from romance, Men I Trust adds a haunting track to the album with “The Landkeeper.” A melancholic melody plays as Proulx sings of returning her memories to the Earth. 

“Purple Box” completely shifts from the previous tracks’ haunting nature back to its whimsical, dreamy sound. The song drifts off at the end as Proulx draws out her syllables. 

Experimenting with style, “Paul’s Theme” brings a much needed jazz interlude that combines itself with Studio Ghibli instrumentals. The band taps into their roots by adding a few French lyrics that can be heard faintly in the background, but they leave the focus on production. 

“Petit homme, mais que veux-tu? / Petit homme, que veux-tu? / Petit homme, que veux-tu? / Petit homme?” Proulx sings. 

A thunderous voice booms through “Girl (2025).” The only deep-toned voice on the album, the track spends the first half in English before continuing the latter half in French. 

Despite earlier critiques of organized religion, “Burrow” boasts religious undertones. Proulx’s voice gets drowned out by the Spanish guitar, making it hard to understand her vocals — which leaves the track uninteresting. 

The guitar continues into “Unlike Anything,” but instead of drowning the singer, it guides her voice across the track leaving a magical ambiance in its midst. The fantastical instrumentation transfers into “I Don’t Like Music,” which documents greed as a replacement for self-satisfaction in creating art. 

“I don’t like music / Why can’t I care? / I lost the gold on my wrist / Should send for it / But it’s gone, don’t know where,” Proulx sings. 

“Moon 2” and “What Matters Most” close out the album as two completely instrumental tracks. The band returns to their previous sound, one akin to the beginning of 57-second introduction to their third studio album “Oncle Jazz.” 

Become a new romantic with Men I Trust’s “Equus Asinus,” available on major streaming services.