(Photo via London Records) London Records will mark the 40th anniversary of the iconic Bronski Beat debut album, “The Age of Consent”, with a series of deluxe reissues available on October 18, 2024. Fans can pre-order these reissues at bronskibeat.tmstor.es.

In conjunction with the reissue, London Records has released a new remix of “Smalltown Boy”’” by Planningtorock. This artist, known for queering sound and visual art, has previously collaborated with Lady Gaga, Robyn, and Christine and The Queens. The remix can be listened to below.

Jimmy Somerville, reflecting on the album, said, “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.”

Planningtorock shared their thoughts on the remix as well: “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.”

Released in 1984, “The Age of Consent” was a pioneering album addressing LGBTQ+ rights and struggles. The album remains relevant today, reflecting ongoing issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community. Its original release included a listing of ages of consent worldwide, symbolizing both the progress made and the challenges still ahead.

The 40th-anniversary reissue will be available in various formats, including a 5-Disc Deluxe Edition (4CD+DVD), a 2CD set with new reworks, a 2LP set, a yellow 1LP edition, and a Super Deluxe Edition exclusive Blu-Ray. The deluxe edition features essays, remixes, rarities, and restored promo videos.

Tracklisting for the 4CD+DVD Deluxe Edition

Disc One: The Age of Consent – The Album Plus

1. Why?
2. It Ain’t Necessarily So
3. Screaming
4. No More War
5. Love and Money
6. Smalltown Boy
7. Heatwave
8. Junk
9. Need a Man Blues
10. I Feel Love / Johnny Remember Me
11. Smalltown Boy (DJ 7” Edit) – Bonus track
12. Why? (Remix) – Bonus track
13. It Ain’t Necessarily So (7” Version) – Bonus track
14. I Feel Love (7” Version) with Marc Almond – Bonus track
15. Run from Love (Radio Version) – Bonus track
16. Hard Rain (NME 7” Version) – Bonus track

Disc Two: Hundreds & Thousands – The Remix Plus

1. Heatwave (Harvey Goldberg Remix)
2. Why (Harvey Goldberg Remix)
3. Run from Love (Dominic Maita Remix)
4. Hard Rain (Harvey Goldberg Remix)
5. Smalltown Boy (Harvey Goldberg Remix)
6. Junk (Harvey Goldberg Remix)
7. Love and Money (Hundreds & Thousands Remix) – Bonus track
8. Infatuation / Memories – Bonus track
9. Close to the Edge – Bonus track
10. I Feel Love (Cake Mix) with Marc Almond – Bonus track
11. Cadillac Car (Extended) – Bonus track

Disc Three: Consent Extended – The 12 Inches Plus

1. Smalltown Boy (12” Version)
2. Why? (12” Version)
3. It Ain’t Necessarily So (12” Version)
4. I Feel Love (12” Version) with Marc Almond
5. Run from Love (US Club Remix ‘85) – Bonus track
6. Smalltown Boy (US Club Remix ‘84) – Bonus track
7. Red Dance
8. The Potato Fields
9. Puit D’Amour
10. Signs (And Wonders)
11. I Feel Love (Fruit Mix)

Disc Four: Ignore at Your Peril – The Rarities Plus

1. Smalltown Boy (Capital Radio Session, May ‘84) – Bonus track
2. Heatwave (Capital Radio Session, May ‘84) – Bonus track
3. Hard Rain (Capital Radio Session, May ‘84) – Bonus track
4. Why? (Early Version, March ‘84) – Bonus track
5. Crazy Maraquitta (Studio Session) – Bonus track
6. It Ain’t Necessarily So (Early Version) – Bonus track
7. Upside Down (Studio Session) – Bonus track
8. Screaming (Early Version, March ‘84) – Bonus track
9. The Power of the Gold (Studio Session) – Bonus track
10. Love and Money (Early Version) – Bonus track
11. First Church (Feel Love) (Studio Session) – Bonus track
12. Junk (Early Version 2) – Bonus track
13. Walking (Studio Session) – Bonus track
14. No More War (Early Version) – Bonus track
15. Go (You & Me) (Studio Session) – Bonus track
16. Close to the Edge (Early Alternate Extended Mix) – Bonus track
17. Heatwave (Early Version) – Bonus track
18. The Other Side of the Tracks (Studio Session) – Bonus track
19. Smalltown Boy (Early Version, March ‘84) – Bonus track

Disc Five: The First Chapter – The Videos Plus [DVD]

1. 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
2. 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
3. Original TV Adverts
   • The Age of Consent – TV Advert #1 (December ‘84) – Bonus track
   • The Age of Consent – TV Advert #2 (January ‘85) – Bonus track

About Bronski Beat

Formed in 1983 in London, Bronski Beat was an influential British synthpop trio known for their groundbreaking music and outspoken advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. The original lineup included Steve Bronski (keyboards, percussion), Larry Steinbachek (keyboards, percussion), and Jimmy Somerville (vocals).

Their debut single, “Smalltown Boy”, released in 1984, became an instant hit. The song’s poignant narrative about a young gay man facing homophobia and isolation resonated deeply with listeners. It climbed the charts, reaching number three in the UK. Later in 1984, Bronski Beat released their debut album, “The Age of Consent”. The inner sleeve listed the ages of consent for homosexual acts worldwide. The album produced other hits like “Why?” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So”.

In 1985, lead vocalist Jimmy Somerville left Bronski Beat to form The Communards with Richard Coles. Despite his departure, Bronski Beat continued, recruiting John Foster (also known as Jon Jon) as their new lead singer. The band released the album “Truthdare Doubledare” in 1986, which included the hit single “Hit That Perfect Beat”.

Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Bronski Beat underwent several lineup changes, with the late Steve Bronski remaining the constant member. They continued to release music, though with less commercial success than their early years. In the 2010s, Steve Bronski reformed the band with new members and continued to perform and release new music.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Dublin based synthpop band Empire State Human has announced the release of its latest compilation album “Robot Love” aka “Robot Love 2002>2009”. The release is covering the years 2002-2009 and holds 20 tracks featuring songs from the first 8 Empire State Human releases.

Included are their collaborations with Bronski Beat’s Steve Bronski, John Giacobello, Wave In Head, Ganymede, Freezepop and Tycho Brahe. “Robot Love” follows the release of their most recent “Primo” compilation (which covered the years 2010-2021). “Robot Love” is out now via Mish Mosh Records.

Lead singer and founding member Aidan Casserly says: “Empire State Human is a project I hold very dear to my heart. Creating Synthpop has been a substantial part of my creativity since the ESH debut album ‘Pop Robot’ in 2002. Electronic pop music has opened many doors for me and I look forward to ’Robot Love’ with great pride and excitement.”

Empire State Human has released 9 studio albums since 2002. They also have worked with ex-Kraftwerk member Wolfgang Flur, and had a #1 in the US iTunes dance charts with a cover of John Carpenter’s “Halloween Theme”.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Sad news from the UK as the news broke this afternoon that Steve Bronski, co-founder and keyboard player in Bronski Beat, has died, aged 61. Bronski,originally from Glasgow, formed Bronski Beat in 1983 with singer Jimmy Somerville and Larry Steinbachek.

“Smalltown Boy” was the band’s debut single and an instant hit. The by now cult video showed Somerville being chased by a homophobic gang, taken home by the police and thrown out by his parents, before getting on the train to start a new life with Bronski and Steinbachek. Their debut album “Age of Consent” followed in 1984.

Following Somerville leaving to form pop group The Communards with Richard Coles, he was replaced by John Foster and later by Jonathan Hellyer. The band set-up has seen a number of changes.

With the death of Bronski, Sommerville remains the only original member alive since Steinbachek died in 2017.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Genre/Influences: Electro-pop.

Background/Info: “The Age Of Reason” is the first ‘new’ Bronski Beat album in 22 years. It all started with the album “The Age Of Consent” (1984). The album became a cult full length thanks to legendary hits such as “Smalltown Boy”, “Why?”; “It Aint’s Necessarily So” ao. Steve Bronski, Larry Steinbachek and of course singer Jimmy Somerville instantly became new idols of electro-pop and ambassadors of the homosexual community.

This legendary work has been now reworked while the second disc also features two brand new songs plus a cover version. Steve Bronski recovered Bronski Beat from the dust teaming up with Ian Donaldson and singer Stephen Granville.

Content: It’s nearly impossible listening to this album while taking distance with the original versions which simply are part of the collective memory. The songs have been reworked and mainly adapted into a ‘modern’ edit. The music became more groovy and into dance-pop. Stephen Granville of course does not have Jimmy Sommerville’s timbre of voice although he’s a great singer. You constantly have to face the idea this is the 2017-edit of an album that was composed in the magic decade of the 80s.

The second disc first reveals a cover version of Patrick Cowley’s “Stars”. This is a clubby adaptation of an old disco track revealing the ‘new’ Bronski Beat. You definitely will discover a side of the band you maybe didn’t ever expect to come true. “I’ll Be Gone” and “A Flower For Dandara” both are great and groovy dance cuts. All the songs have been remixed, mainly reinforcing the club-direction of these songs. Remixes have been made by Sordid Soundz (aka Ian Donaldson) and Qubiq.

+ + + : The magic of the 80s was something unique because electronic music was something new and even revolutionary. Bronski Beat entered into history and their original hits are still hot stuff on parties of today! This reworked and adapted album doesn’t want to emulate this magic, but reveals that it’s possible to rework “The Age Of consent”-album into a modern and danceable work. I like the ‘new’ versions of “Love & Money”, “Junk” and “Run From Love” (originally released on “Hundreds & Thousands”). The work also features the songs “No More War” and “It Ain’t Necessarily so”, which have been mixed in one song.

Among the new song I especially like “I’ll Be Gone” while “Stars” is a great cover version. I noticed two great remixes of “I’ll Be Gone” by Sordid Soundz.

– – – : I don’t say that this ‘new’ work will be banished by the die-hard fans, but “The Age Of Reason” clearly sounds different from the original work. The analogue magic of the sounds and Jimmy Sommerville are missing especially on the greatest hits “Smalltown Boy” and “Why?”. The groovy turnover clearly sounds into modern hypes and might be an opportunity to discover Bronski Beat by younger fans, but I can’t imagine the die-hard fans will be totally convinced!

Conclusion: Bronski Beat is alive and the best way to fight back was probably to rework and re-edit their most famous album in history plus adding a few new cuts. I’m not saying it’s the most successful way, but globally speaking I rather enjoyed “The Age Of Reason”!

Best songs: “Love & Money”, “Junk”, “Why?”, “Smalltown Boy”, Run From Love” + “I’ll Be Gone – Dub & Dusted”, “I’ll Be Gone – Stompin’ Siletto Mix”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.bronskibeat.club

Label: www.cherryred.co.uk / www.facebook.com/CherryRedRecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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2017 starts again pretty bad when it comes to music. Today it was announced that Larry Steinbachek (on the right in the picture above), former keyboardist with 1980s synthpop group Bronski Beat, has died at the age of 56. Steinbachek died already in December after a short battle with cancer.

Steinbachek together with Jimmy Somerville and Steve Bronski formed Bronski Beat in 1983.

When Somerville left for The Communards in 1985, Steinbachek and Bronski continued the group recruiting John Foster as Somerville’s replacement (he would only stay for 2 years). Steinbachek moved to Amsterdam in 1994, quit Bronski Beat in 1995 and continued to make music including musicals. He also became the musical director for Michael Laub’s theatre company, ‘Remote Control Productions’.

Here’s some of the tracks that catapulted Larry Steinbachek into eternal music history:

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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