Chris Laguna Warps Reality on Audileidoscope, a Mind-Bending Indie Odyssey
San Marcos-based musician Chris Laguna isn’t just playing with sound, he’s dissecting it, warping it, and stitching it back together into something radically new. His February 2024 release, Audileidoscope, lives up to its name: a kaleidoscope for the ears, built with an arsenal of oddball instruments, left-field lyrics, and a fearless experimental spirit.
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Laguna cites inspirations like Ween, Mr. Bungle, Sufjan Stevens, and The Mountain Goats, but his voice (and vision) are unmistakably his own. Clarinet, saxophone, bass trombone, zither, vibraphone, upright bass, and more weave in and out of the album’s shifting terrain, creating vibrant textures that feel playful, cinematic, and sometimes completely unhinged in the best way.
But Audileidoscope isn’t just about quirky sounds; it’s anchored by direct, melodic vocals and lyrics that move between the absurd and the politically sharp. One moment he’s singing about ants invading a home, the next he’s critiquing the housing market or reflecting on the Capitol attack. It's like flipping through a songwriter's sketchbook of America, part satire, part sincerity.
At its core, Audileidoscope feels like a love letter to chaos, curiosity, and community. Laguna isn’t chasing trends; he’s inviting listeners into a world where oddity is welcome and connection is key. As a local artist, he's also vocal about building community and lifting up other musicians, an ethos that's easy to get behind.
Whether you're an indie rock purist, a jazz dabbler, or someone who just wants to hear a trumpet solo give way to a housing crisis ballad, Chris Laguna’s Audileidoscope is worth the trip.
