Stewart Copeland "The Rhythmatist" (1985)
For Record Store Day 2026, Stewart Copeland's 1985 solo album titled The Rhythmatist is being reissued by Demon Records, in a limited vinyl edition which will be pressed in blue translucent vinyl, and limited to 1,200 copies. This edition has new cover art, and each copy will come with an exclusive art print signed by Copeland. The album will be also be reissued on CD on May 29th, with seven bonus tracks consisting of alternate versions of the album's singles "Koteja (Oh Bolilla)" and "Gong Rock".
The first post-Police album by that band's former drummer, The Rhythmatist was the soundtrack album to Copeland's 1985 film of the same name, which was released on home video (A&M Video VC 61008). Directed and produced by Jean-Pierre Dutilleux, that amusing 57-minute curio showed Copeland undertaking a series of National Geographic-like adventures in East and West Africa, with the stated intention of studying the influence of African rhythms on music of the developed world. We see Copeland musically interacting with Fourth World tribes, and in one sequence, he is seen playing drums inside a fence surrounded by lions, supposedly to demonstrate how fear influences rhythm. In other moments of The Gods Must Be Crazy-like humor, Copeland supposedly gets high with a tribe of Pygmies in the jungle, and supposedly runs afoul of Muslims in a town where music is forbidden.
The music on the Rhythmatist soundtrack album consists of worldbeat with an emphasis on the beat, as Copeland mixes various percussion sounds (among other instruments played by him) with African rhythms and chants. Copeland used many electronic sounds in an effort to blend contemporary Western musical styles with traditional African ones. Congolese musician Ray Lema sang lead vocals on three tracks ("Koteja", "Liberté", "Kemba"), while Copeland added jokier vocal turns to the last two tracks ("Serengeti Long Walk", "African Dream"). The other five tracks are largely instrumental, although some feature tribal chants. Copeland sometimes incorporates elements of fusion, reggae, and symphonic styles as well. Much of the resulting music on The Rhythmatist is fairly unique and quite catchy, although the album usually comes across more like an experiment than like a solid artistic statement. "Gong Rock" is the most Police-like track, with a reggae-rock vibe that recalls the Zenyatta Mondatta era. If you're hoping for something on the order of Paul Simon's Graceland album (which was released one year after this one), the Lema-sung "Liberté" is the song that most fits that bill.
Stewart Copeland "The Rhythmatist" (A&M SP-5084) 1985
Track Listing:
1. Koteja (Oh Bolilla)
2. Brazzaville
3. Liberté
4. Coco
5. Kemba
6. Samburu Sunset
7. Gong Rock
8. Franco
9. Serengeti Long Walk
10. African Dream
The cover art used for many European and Asian editions of the album, similar to the home video cover art.
The first post-Police album by that band's former drummer, The Rhythmatist was the soundtrack album to Copeland's 1985 film of the same name, which was released on home video (A&M Video VC 61008). Directed and produced by Jean-Pierre Dutilleux, that amusing 57-minute curio showed Copeland undertaking a series of National Geographic-like adventures in East and West Africa, with the stated intention of studying the influence of African rhythms on music of the developed world. We see Copeland musically interacting with Fourth World tribes, and in one sequence, he is seen playing drums inside a fence surrounded by lions, supposedly to demonstrate how fear influences rhythm. In other moments of The Gods Must Be Crazy-like humor, Copeland supposedly gets high with a tribe of Pygmies in the jungle, and supposedly runs afoul of Muslims in a town where music is forbidden.
The music on the Rhythmatist soundtrack album consists of worldbeat with an emphasis on the beat, as Copeland mixes various percussion sounds (among other instruments played by him) with African rhythms and chants. Copeland used many electronic sounds in an effort to blend contemporary Western musical styles with traditional African ones. Congolese musician Ray Lema sang lead vocals on three tracks ("Koteja", "Liberté", "Kemba"), while Copeland added jokier vocal turns to the last two tracks ("Serengeti Long Walk", "African Dream"). The other five tracks are largely instrumental, although some feature tribal chants. Copeland sometimes incorporates elements of fusion, reggae, and symphonic styles as well. Much of the resulting music on The Rhythmatist is fairly unique and quite catchy, although the album usually comes across more like an experiment than like a solid artistic statement. "Gong Rock" is the most Police-like track, with a reggae-rock vibe that recalls the Zenyatta Mondatta era. If you're hoping for something on the order of Paul Simon's Graceland album (which was released one year after this one), the Lema-sung "Liberté" is the song that most fits that bill.
Stewart Copeland "The Rhythmatist" (A&M SP-5084) 1985
Track Listing:
1. Koteja (Oh Bolilla)
2. Brazzaville
3. Liberté
4. Coco
5. Kemba
6. Samburu Sunset
7. Gong Rock
8. Franco
9. Serengeti Long Walk
10. African Dream
The cover art used for many European and Asian editions of the album, similar to the home video cover art.
Comments