The Police – Zenyatta Mondatta (1980 UK Press)

The Police – Zenyatta Mondatta

Released in October 1980, Zenyatta Mondatta is the third studio album by The Police and one of the defining records of the new wave era. Combining punk energy, reggae rhythms, post-punk experimentation and instantly memorable pop songwriting, the album captures the trio at the height of their creative powers as they developed their distinctive fusion of styles.

Recorded at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, the Netherlands, during the summer of 1980, the album was produced by the band alongside Nigel Gray. Created under considerable time pressure during an intensive touring schedule, the recording nevertheless showcases the remarkable musical chemistry between Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland.

Sting's melodic basslines and distinctive vocals, Summers' atmospheric and often angular guitar work, and Copeland's inventive, rhythmically complex drumming combine to create the band's unmistakable sound. Their ability to blend Jamaican reggae and ska influences with British punk and new wave gave The Police a musical identity that was both adventurous and commercially accessible.

The album opens with 'Don't Stand So Close To Me', one of the band's most memorable singles, pairing an infectious reggae-influenced rhythm with an unsettling narrative about attraction, boundaries and a teacher's relationship with a pupil. 'Driven To Tears' introduces a more politically conscious dimension, with Sting addressing poverty and social inequality over a tense, rhythmically driven arrangement. Similarly, 'When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around' combines atmospheric production with a hypnotic groove that remains one of the group's most distinctive recordings.

Elsewhere, 'Canary In A Coalmine' delivers an energetic burst of new wave pop, while 'Voices Inside My Head' explores a darker, more experimental instrumental approach. Stewart Copeland's 'Bombs Away' adds another dimension to the record, showcasing his distinctive compositional style.

The second side continues the variety with 'De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da', another major international hit, and Andy Summers' instrumental composition 'Behind My Camel', which earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. 'Man In A Suitcase' brings a playful, reggae-inflected energy, while 'Shadows In The Rain' explores a more atmospheric and hypnotic sound. Closing track 'The Other Way Of Stopping', written by Copeland, finishes the album with an intricate, rhythmically adventurous instrumental performance.

Zenyatta Mondatta became a major international success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and helping establish The Police as one of the biggest bands of the early 1980s. Its combination of sharp songwriting, adventurous musicianship and infectious rhythms makes it an essential release from a particularly influential period in British rock music.

An excellent addition for fans of The Police, classic new wave, post-punk, reggae-influenced rock and the defining sounds of the early 1980s.

Tracklist

Side A
A1. Don't Stand So Close To Me (4:03)
A2. Driven To Tears (3:21)
A3. When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around (3:33)
A4. Canary In A Coalmine (2:24)
A5. Voices Inside My Head (3:51)
A6. Bombs Away (3:07)

Side B
B1. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (4:09)
B2. Behind My Camel (2:53)
B3. Man In A Suitcase (2:15)
B4. Shadows In The Rain (5:09)
B5. The Other Way Of Stopping (3:21)