It’s been a minute. Honestly, it’s been more than a minute since Emma Proulx, Jessy Caron, and Dragos Chiriac really sat us down for a full-length experience. After the sprawling, 24-track behemoth that was Untourable Album—which, ironically, they ended up touring quite a bit—and the loose-end charm of Untourable Album (Instrumental) or the 2023 singles, the anticipation for a Men I Trust new album has basically become a permanent state of being for indie fans.
They don't rush. That's the thing. While the rest of the industry is frantically trying to game the TikTok algorithm with 15-second hooks, Men I Trust just kind of... exists in this hazy, humid space of their own making.
The Sound of Quiet Confidence
If you were expecting a massive departure into industrial techno or something wild, you’re looking at the wrong trio. The Men I Trust new album doubles down on that signature Montreal "soft-focus" fidelity. It’s a record that feels like it was recorded in a room full of velvet curtains and half-empty coffee mugs.
What's different this time around is the precision.
You’ve got Jessy’s basslines, which are—per usual—the unsung hero of the whole operation. They aren't just background noise; they provide the melodic skeleton that allows Emma’s vocals to drift like smoke. People often mistake their "chill" vibe for lack of effort. That is a huge mistake. If you listen closely to the layering on the new tracks, the harmonic complexity is actually pretty staggering. It’s hard to make something sound this effortless. It’s even harder to make it sound this expensive on a DIY budget.
Why the "Dream Pop" Label is Kinda Lazy
Music critics love boxes. They see a synthesizer and a breathy vocal and immediately slap a "Dream Pop" or "Shoegaze" label on it. But this Men I Trust new album pulls from a much weirder, cooler bucket of influences.
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Think 70s soft rock. Think about those obscure Japanese city pop records from the 80s that you find in the $2 bins at Amoeba Music. There’s a distinct jazz sensibility here too. Not the "I’m wearing a fedora and playing a trumpet" kind of jazz, but the kind of improvisational fluidity you hear in the chord voicings.
- The drum patterns have moved away from simple 4/4 loops.
- Emma’s lyrics are getting more abstract, less about specific "he said, she said" narratives and more about fleeting physical sensations.
- The production quality is crisp, but it still has that "tape hiss" warmth that makes it feel human.
The Evolution from Oncle Jazz
To understand where we are now, you have to look back at Oncle Jazz. That was the turning point. It was the moment they moved from being a "cool band from Quebec" to a global phenomenon that Tyler, The Creator was shouting out from the rooftops.
The Men I Trust new album feels like the mature older sibling of Oncle Jazz. If that record was a long, winding sunset, the new material is the blue hour that follows. It’s darker. Not "sad" dark, but introspective. Moody. It’s the sound of a band that has spent years on the road and finally found a way to translate that exhaustion into something beautiful.
I remember seeing them live in a packed, sweaty venue a couple of years ago. The most striking thing wasn't the light show—there barely was one—it was how quiet the crowd got. You could hear a pin drop during the bass solos. This new record captures that specific intimacy. It doesn’t demand your attention; it earns it by being the most interesting thing in the room without ever raising its voice.
Technical Specs and Production Nerdery
For the gearheads out there, the Men I Trust new album is a masterclass in subtractive synthesis and analog warmth. Dragos has talked in the past about their love for the Juno-60 and the Korg MS-20, and those textures are all over this thing. But there’s a new emphasis on acoustic space.
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You can hear the room.
In an era where every snare drum is sampled and every vocal is tuned to within an inch of its life, hearing the slight imperfections in a take is a revelation. It’s what makes them feel real. They aren't trying to be perfect. They’re trying to be honest.
The songwriting process for this album apparently shifted slightly. Where previous records felt like they were built "in the box" (meaning, on a computer), this one has a more "live off the floor" energy. You can tell they’ve been playing together as a unit for a long time. The telepathy between the bass and drums is something you just can't program.
Standout Moments and Deep Cuts
There’s a track toward the middle of the album—I won't spoil the title yet for those who haven't copped the vinyl—that features this incredibly long, wandering guitar outro. It’s almost psychedelic. It reminds me of early Tame Impala but without the aggressive distortion. Just clean, chorus-drenched notes that feel like they’re melting.
- The lead singles provided a "safe" entry point, but the deep cuts are where the real experimentation happens.
- Watch out for the instrumental bridges; they’re longer and more complex than anything on Headroom.
- The vocal harmonies are more layered, creating a "wall of sound" effect that still feels light as air.
What This Means for Indie Music in 2026
The landscape is changing. We’re seeing a shift away from the "bedroom pop" aesthetic of 2019—the crunchy, distorted, purposely "bad" sounding recordings. People want high fidelity again. They want to hear the wood of the guitar and the breath of the singer.
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The Men I Trust new album is leading that charge.
They’ve proven that you can be independent, you can be low-key, and you can still produce world-class art that resonates with millions of people. They don't have a massive PR machine. They don't do "stunts." They just release music and let it speak.
It’s refreshing.
How to Properly Listen to This Record
Don't shuffle it. Please.
This is a "headphones on, lights off, phone in the other room" kind of album. It’s a cohesive piece of work. The transitions between songs are handled with such care that skipping around feels like tearing pages out of a book.
If you have a decent turntable setup, this is the one to get on wax. The low-end frequencies in Jessy’s bass are practically designed for an analog needle. There’s a certain "roundness" to the sound that digital files—even high-res ones—sometimes struggle to capture.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Check the Tour Dates: They’ve announced a string of intimate theater shows. These will sell out faster than the club dates because the vibe of this new album fits a seated, focused environment perfectly.
- Update Your Playlists: While the album is meant to be heard in full, tracks like "Husk" and the newer singles are perfect for those late-night driving playlists.
- Support Independent: Since they handle so much of their own production and distribution, buying merch directly from their site actually makes a massive difference in their ability to keep making music without a major label breathing down their necks.
- Dig Into the Back Catalog: If you’re a new fan brought in by the hype of the Men I Trust new album, go back and listen to the Oncle Jazz instrumentals. It’ll give you a whole new appreciation for the technical skill involved in their "simple" songs.
The wait was long, but in a world that moves too fast, Men I Trust is the perfect reminder to slow down. This isn't just another release; it's a mood, a sanctuary, and a very strong contender for the best indie record of the year.