Lena C’s new record strongly reflects her global outlook and open hearted approach, absorbing musical influences and feeding her creativity. It’s been a minute since 2022’s ‘Promenade’ on Sprechen but this one is worth the wait. Each track on ‘Stimuli’ weaves its own special magic, proving atmospheric sounds and ethereal washes can also move and groove.

‘Au Large’ eases in gently with soothing flutes and a delicate beat. Press blurb says Balearic, and it’s hard to argue with that as a frame of reference, but that undersells what is a really top piece of downtempo late night sunset material.

The Maloya tradition of Reunion is introduced for ‘Bat Kare’ a percussive undertow propels this one with a gorgeous overriding melody. ‘Inspiration Zouk’ kind of doesn’t need an intro, the dance music of Guadeloupe amongst others can be a mixed bag but this draws on the best elements to very satisfying effect. ‘Elle, Dani..’ is Lena’s tribute to another musical hero of her adopted home of Todmorden. North African elements combine into a subtly propulsive flow of music. Final number, ‘Clap de Fin’ is an entrancing endgame, competing beats and layers ebb and flow to an entrancing conclusion. Top Calderica from the Happy Valley.

Stimuli is out now via Bandcamp.