“I grew up knowing that I was a ‘Viêt Kiêu’ –an overseas Vietnamese, born on soil other than that of my parents’ homeland, yet harbouring dreams of a country that was very distant,” explains guitarist Nguyên Lê. His new album, made 22 years after Tales from Viêt-Nam and following what he terms “five other Vietnamese albums”, “sets out to reflect upon how cultures migrate, develop and mutate throughout their journey”. In fact, Overseas was conceived as the soundtrack for the stage show of the same name directed by Tuan Le, the lead choreographer for Cirque du Soleil, and brings together jazz, hip-hop, rock, reggae, electronica and traditional Vietnamese music. As that list of ingredients suggests, it's a remarkable piece of super-saturated global music. Lê is a guitarist of huge musical ambition and accomplishment; other projects include a fine Jimi Hendrix tribute (Purple, 2002). As Lê says: “Today I am Vietnamese and a citizen of the world, and my music wants to express this, and to bring out the creativity of the country as it is now. Which is why this album and this show have been shaped by so many talents.” Trung Bao's beatboxing adds another unexpected dimension, including on the centrepiece sequence, the seven-part ‘Overseas Suite’.