Oncle Jazz - Men I Trust

At a sprawling 24 tracks, Oncle Jazz is less an album and more a prolonged meditation on chill vibes. It feels like the sonic equivalent of sinking into a cloud of soft pillows after a long day—relaxing, comforting, and just the right amount of immersive. Men I Trust, the dream-pop trio from Montreal, seem determined to carve out a space where you can escape the noise of the world, all while making you hum along to deceptively catchy hooks.

This album dropped in 2019 after what felt like an eternity (okay, a four-year gap) between their previous works. Oncle Jazz blends soft pop, a dash of mellow funk, and a lot of cozy bedroom indie to create a sound that’s both nostalgic and futuristic. Men I Trust are the masters of minimalist soundscapes, where every beat and whispery lyric feels intentional yet effortlessly breezy.

Production-wise, the album is a masterclass in how to make “chill” not sound lazy. Emma Proulx’s ethereal voice floats over lo-fi bass grooves, hypnotic guitar lines, and synths that feel like they’re sneaking up on you, all the while pulling you deeper into the tracks. Songs like “Norton Commander” and “Tailwhip” are drenched in this sonic magic—a blissful mix of electronic dreaminess and subtle funk grooves. You might notice that most tracks stick to a mid-tempo, but instead of dragging, it creates this seamless flow that lulls you into a kind of peaceful trance. Listening to Oncle Jazz feels like floating in an endless summer haze.

Lyrically, Oncle Jazz doesn’t try to bowl you over with grand declarations or complex narratives. Instead, the album explores introspection and gentle emotion. Emma’s whisper-soft delivery makes every word feel intimate, like she’s singing directly to you, about you. Tracks like “Numb” and “Found Me” deal with vulnerability in such a delicate, unassuming way, and there’s a feeling of quiet self-reflection running throughout the album. It’s the soundtrack for late-night drives, introspective coffee mornings, or those moments when you’re just staring out the window, lost in thought.

Let’s be real, at 24 songs, some tracks are bound to blur together. But when Men I Trust hit their stride, the results are golden. “Tailwhip” is a standout with its infectious bassline and smooth groove—it’s the closest the album gets to an anthem (while still maintaining a cool, detached vibe). “Norton Commander (Album V)” feels like floating on a warm breeze, and “All Night” is the musical equivalent of being wrapped in your favorite blanket. Even instrumental interludes like “Slap Pie” manage to stand out, adding depth without feeling like filler.

This is where Oncle Jazz pulls off something magical. Despite its length, it doesn’t feel like a slog. The album flows effortlessly from track to track, creating a continuous mood that’s hard to break away from. Sure, some songs might sound similar, but the whole thing is so perfectly hypnotic, it feels less like monotony and more like being cradled in a sonic cocoon. The pacing is intentional, with upbeat moments peeking through just when you start to drift off, like little musical wake-up calls.

This is not an album that demands your attention—it gently requests it. And that’s the beauty. Oncle Jazz is perfect for those moments when you want to feel something but don’t necessarily want to confront anything too heavy. It’s emotionally intelligent without being intrusive, offering a kind of therapeutic calm in its repeated refrains and subtle hooks. This album doesn’t just sit in the background; it transforms your atmosphere.

Do you like dream pop? How about the feeling of being endlessly serene, with the faintest hint of melancholy sneaking in? Then this album is for you. It’s for fans of artists like Clairo, Jay Som, and anyone who wishes life was just one long chillwave playlist. But even if you’re not familiar with those names, Oncle Jazz could be your gateway drug into a world of lo-fi dreamscapes and introspective afternoons.

Oncle Jazz is a blissed-out triumph. It might be long, and sure, some tracks could blend into the wallpaper of your subconscious, but that’s the point. This album doesn’t need to shout to get your attention—it invites you in with a whisper, and by the time you leave, you feel like you’ve been gently cradled by sound. Keep it on repeat, because like the best dreams, you won’t want to wake up.