Puman – Spring (Sea of Wood Records, 2025)
Five years after their breakthrough debut, Puman returns with Spring, their second full-length album and a bold evolution of what’s become known as “Yunnan reggae.” The irie album expands the band’s musical scope while remaining deeply grounded in the cultural traditions of southwest China’s ethnic minorities.
Puman emerged from Yunnan province, a region often associated with cultural resistance to Han Chinese mainstream influence. Their distinctive sound amalgams irresistible reggae riddims with melodies and instruments from the Wa, Yi, B’lang, and Naxi peoples, among others. The result is both a celebration of identity and a musical countercurrent to rapid modernization.
True to form, Spring integrates field recordings and folk tunes with modern production. The title track reinterprets a “planting song” from Awa Village in Pu’er, mixing community voices and ritual percussion into a modern reggae framework. Elsewhere, “March Sixth” addresses the painful legacy of arranged marriages in rural Yunnan, repurposing a traditional melody into what has become an anthem for women’s rights in the region.
On “Du (Crossing),” the band ventures into spiritual territory, drawing from Naxi mythology to evoke a metaphysical river journey. Meanwhile, “Smoking Pipe” honors elder wisdom through its quiet, meditative groove.
The album also highlights Puman’s expanding musical horizons. “Tree of Life” reimagines a track by Jamaican legends The Skatalites, while “Modern Village” critiques the disorienting effects of urbanization. In each case, Puman maintains their reggae foundation while layering rock, dub, and folk elements into an increasingly eclectic sound.
According to the band, Spring is meant as “a form of healing,” an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect.
Musicians: Tan Gaosheng on lead vocals and guitar; Xu Guangfu on lead vocals, guitar, and keyboard; Ru Yifei on lead vocals, wind instruments, three-string, flute, and hulusi; Yang Zijie on lead vocals and bass;
Awalai Village Choir on lead vocals; Jalil Muhammadi on lead vocals and sax; Dai Yetong on guitar; Zhang Zhuang on bass; Ni Dou on keyboard; Zeng Xingyuan on keyboard; Su Xianrui on drums; and Sam Debell on percussion and wind instruments.
Author: Joe Nash
