Listening to Matlock’s latest LP Moonshine is like going to the circus, you enjoy yourself most of the time but some rides make you sick. The circus theme is realized with tracks like ‘Pignose’ which features R.A. The Rugged Man, throwing his hat into the ring, while Matlock boasts his ‘big swollen sack like Santi Claus.’ Five tracks in, Matlock has a sobering paranoia joint called ‘Don’t Sleep’ which warns of backstabbing with a sped up ‘N.Y. State of Mind’ sample that is half way chipmunked and meek. Although Kaz1 handles the boards for the majority of the album, the instrumentals stray from redundancy. Still, the black sheep beat of the album, DJ Babu’s ‘This Music’ turns out to be the best as a stand-alone track. A Common sample between spacious piano tickles and drum-circle undertones allows Matlock to come clean about his musical journey, complete with laundry list of influences. Matlock does well to have a carnival without being a Carney. Throughout the album he manages to piece together fifteen conceptual, melodic tracks that vary in subject matter from a ‘Dear Abbey’ plea to a purp-party anthem ‘Get Lit’ featuring Rusty Chains. You can almost taste the cotton candy and funnel cakes in this musical carnival, but you might not want to stay all night.

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