On October 18, London Records will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Bronski Beat‘s groundbreaking debut album, ‘The Age of Consent,’ with deluxe reissues that promise to captivate both long-time fans and new listeners.
Speaking about the legacy of the album, Jimmy Sommerville reveals, “When there is something we do in our life that can have such an impact on other peoples’ lives, and to be told this by others, it’s humbling. ‘The Age of Consent’ is, and always will be, such a special part of my life.”
To celebrate the announcement of the reissue, London Records has also today shared another remix of “Smalltown Boy” by Bolton-born, Tallinn-based singer-songwriter, composer, producer, DJ, and director Planningtorock. A self-taught, trans-non-binary, working-class musician, they’ve spent almost two decades queering sound and visual art, and working as a remixer for Lady Gaga, Robyn, Christine and The Queens and Romy to name but a few places them in perfect stead to handle the remix of Queer call-to-arms “Smalltown Boy”.
Speaking on “Smalltown Boy,” Planningtorock adds: “I first saw ‘Smalltown Boy’ on telly back in 1984 when I was twelve. I remember it having a big impact on me even then. Just loved how it told the story so directly like a mini-documentary but as a music clip sharing a gay experience that was sad to watch but at the same time so empowering. Those early years as a queer trans kid were so lonely for me and Bronski Beat made me feel less alone showing me how music can help you translate a painful experience into something liberating.”
Described by Pitchfork as “a perfect song,” and an “an upbeat theme of liberation” by The Financial Times, “Smalltown Boy” has been listed among Rolling Stone’s Greatest Dance Songs, Time Out’s Best Pride Songs, and continues to reach new audiences. The track had a steady climb back to #51 in the UK singles charts (its highest chart entry since August 1984) recently, in part due to celebrities like Cyndi Lauper, Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Garner jumping on the viral TikTok trend of reliving 80s dance moves using the song. In addition to this, Jimmy’s message on social media around the track has also had amazing engagement – with over a million views across the Bronski Beat social media channels.
Released in 1984, ‘The Age of Consent‘ was a pioneering voice in the fight for queer liberation and equal rights, bravely addressing the struggles and triumphs of LGBTQ+ communities at a time when such discussions were often silenced. Fast forward 40 years, and while some milestones such as equal marriage have been won, the fight for true equality throughout the LGBTQ+ community continues. Following a general election in the UK that saw the Trans community spotlighted in a vicious culture war, and essentially used as a political football, the album’s themes of liberation and defiance remain as prescient today as they were then. In the 1984 release, Bronski Beat took a skillful sideswipe at the body politic by listing the ages of consent in every country around the world on the inside jacket – the album still serves as a reminder of both progress made and battles yet to be won by an increasingly marginalized LGBTQ+ community.
To mark this momentous occasion, the 40th-anniversary reissue of ‘The Age of Consent‘ will be available in a variety of physical and digital formats, including a 5-Disc Deluxe Edition (4CD+DVD): featuring 4 essays by Tom Rasmussen, Lesley Chow, Lucy Robinson, and Barney Ashton-Bullock, the original album, bonus tracks, remixes, rarities, early versions, and rare radio sessions. Its DVD comes with restored promo videos, Top of the Pops performances, and original TV adverts.
Other formats include 2CD with new reworks, 2LP (with ‘The Age of Consent‘ and its neighboring remix album ‘Hundreds & Thousands,‘ a yellow 1LP edition (Lexer Music Exclusive), and a Super Deluxe Edition exclusive Blu Ray edition featuring ‘The Age of Consent‘ and ‘Hundreds & Thousands‘ in Dolby Atmos & 5.1 mixes.
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