Radial Nerve, the debut album from London-based Aaron Wheeler, or Laszlo, very nearly never was. When the young multi-instrumentalist broke his right arm – the radial nerve to be precise (hence the album title) – neither his arm nor fingers would move.

Wheeler, who had previously fashioned a career composing music for TV programs and adverts around the world, was faced with the prospect that his days of playing piano, guitar, mandolin, bass, drums, low whistle, dulcimer and percussion were all over, as doctors suspected he would never have the reactions to play any instrument again.

Luckily, the quacks were wrong. Had they been right, the world would never have this, a wonderfully diverse LP released on he and friend Liam Nolan’s burgeoning Lydian Label. The release is near impossible to define, at least by genre – put simply, it’s unlike anything I’ve heard before. Mixing elements of jazz, classical, world, Balearic electronica, funk, folk and ambient techno with heaps of piano (Wheeler admits many of the tracks began as solo piano pieces), accordion, various atmospheric effects and God knows what else, Wheeler has fashioned one hell of a musical journey.

While much of this album was previously showcased as three individual EPs, including last year’s Mr Sunshine EP (the title track of which is a positive stand out with its broken beats, mandolin line and other instrumentation), the way the tracks fit together as one long soundtrack is impressive.

Zeitgesit is my pick though, with its cool rolling bass, chimes, soft vocals and steadily building intensity that then turns into some kind of nursery rhyme hybrid before morphing back again. Like I said, this album is brilliant in its complexity.

Rhodesy is another brilliant effort – a low-slung, down-tempo tune which benefits greatly from the near ubiquitous piano loop, clapping effects and some wonderful, understated strings. Lydia’s Dream, too, is fantastic, a laid-back number that sets the scene for the minimalist Anatolia, and the closer, Bohemian Groove, which with its funk-laden bass line, ups the tempo just when it’s needed.

Radial Nerve is a real slow burn; each time you listen, some other instrument comes to the fore or another subtle effect becomes apparent, making it an adventure to savour. I can’t say I’d heard of Laszlo before this promo found me, but I’ll never forget him now. Open-minded music lovers should feel the same.