Bronski Beat announce 40th anniversary deluxe reissue of The Age Of Consent.

To mark the 40th anniversary of The Age Of Consent, London Records will release deluxe reissue editions of Bronski Beat’s groundbreaking debut album on 18 October.

To celebrate the announcement of the reissue, London Records has also shared another remix of Smalltown Boy by Bolton-born, Tallinn based singer-songwriter, composer, producer, DJ and director Planningtorock.

Watch their remix below:

Theme Of Liberation

A self-taught, trans non-binary, working-class musician, Planningtorock 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.

Planningtorock said: “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.”

Jimmy Somerville commented: “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.”

Relevant Record

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 marginalised LGBTQ+ community.

Bronski Beat The Age Of Consent lineup

The Age Of Consent

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 five-Disc Deluxe Edition (4CD+DVD): featuring four 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 neighbouring 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.

4CD+DVD DELUXE SET TRACKLISTING 

Disc One
The Age Of Consent – The Album Plus

Why?
It Ain’t Necessarily So
Screaming
No More War
Love And & Money
Smalltown Boy
Heatwave
Junk
Need A Man Blues
I Feel Love / Johnny Remember Me
Smalltown Boy (DJ 7″ edit) – Bonus Track
Why? (Remix) – Bonus Track
It Ain’t Necessarily So (7″ version) – Bonus Track
I Feel Love (7″ version) with Marc Almond – Bonus Track
Run From Love (radio version) – Bonus Track
Hard Rain (NME 7″ version) – Bonus Track

Disc Two
Hundreds & Thousands – The Remix Plus

Heatwave (Harvey Goldberg remix)
Why (Harvey Goldberg remix)
Run From Love (Dominic Maita remix)
Hard Rain (Harvey Goldberg remix)
Smalltown Boy (Harvey Goldberg remix)
Junk (Harvey Goldberg remix)
Love And Money (Hundreds & Thousands remix) * – Bonus Track
Infatuation / Memories – Bonus Track
Close To The Edge – Bonus Track
I Feel Love (Cake Mix) with Marc Almond – Bonus Track
Cadillac Car (Extended) – Bonus Track

Disc Three
Consent Extended – The 12 Inches Plus

Smalltown Boy (12″ version)
Why? (12″ version)
It Ain’t Necessarily So (12″ version)
I Feel Love (12″ version) with Marc Almond
Run From Love (US Club Remix 85) *
Smalltown Boy (US Club Remix 84) *
Red Dance
The Potato Fields
Puit D’Amour
Signs (And Wonders)
I Feel Love (Fruit Mix)

Disc Four
Ignore At Your Peril – The Rarities Plus

Smalltown Boy (Capital Radio Session, May 84) *
Heatwave (Capital Radio Session, May 84) *
Hard Rain (Capital Radio Session, May 84 )*
Why? (Early Version, March 84) *
Crazy Maraquitta (Studio Session) *
It Ain’t Necessarily So (Early Version) *
Upside Down (Studio Session) *
Screaming (Early Version, March 84) *
The Power Of The Gold (Studio Session) *
Love And Money (Early Version) *
First Church (Feel Love) (Studio Session) *
Junk (Early Version 2) *
Walking (Studio Session) *
No More War (Early Version) *
Go (You & Me) (Studio Session) *
Close To The Edge (Early Alternate Extended Mix) *
Heatwave (Early Version) *
The Other Side Of The Tracks (Studio Session) *
Smalltown Boy (Early Version, March 84) *

Disc Five
The First Chapter – The Videos Plus DVD

Official Music Videos
Smalltown Boy (Restored Promo)
Why? (Restored Promo)
It Ain’t Necessarily So (Restored Promo)
I Feel Love (Restored Promo) with Marc Almond

Top Of The Pops Performances
Smalltown Boy (BBC Top Of The Pops, June 84)
Why? (BBC Top Of The Pops September 84)
It Ain’t Necessarily So (BBC Top Of The Pops, December 84)
I Feel Love (BBC Top Of The Pops, April 85) with Marc Almond

Original TV Adverts
The Age Of Consent – TV Advert #1 (December 84) *
The Age Of Consent – TV Advert #2 (January 85) *

* Previously Unreleased

2CD Tracklisting

Disc One

Why?
It Ain’t Necessarily So
Screaming
No More War
Love And Money
Smalltown Boy
Heatwave
Junk
Need A Man Blues
I Feel Love / Johnny Remember Me
Smalltown Boy (Absolute. Extended Rework)
Smalltown Boy (Planningtorock’s ‘The Love That You Need’ Rework)
Smalltown Boy (Dave Audé Vs Tall Paul Remix) *
Why? (Superchumbo Mix Ft. Neil Tennant) *
Smalltown Boy (The Knocks & Bronski Beat Ft Perfume Genius) *

Disc Two

Heatwave (Harvey Goldberg Remix)
Why (Harvey Goldberg Remix)
Run From Love (Dominic Maita Remix)
Hard Rain (Harvey Goldberg Remix)
Smalltown Boy (Harvey Goldberg Remix)
Junk (Harvey Goldberg Remix)
Love And Money (Hundreds & Thousands Remix) *
Infatuation / Memories
Close To The Edge
I Feel Love (Cake Mix) with Marc Almond
Cadillac Car (Extended)

To pre-order click here

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