elf@utcsrgv.UUCP (Eugene Fiume) (11/27/84)
Wow! A male voice that's a cross between Jon Anderson and Alison Moyet. That's the main attraction of this energetic album by the Bronski Beat: "Age of Consent". The members of Bronski Beat are apparently gay -- honestly and earnestly gay -- not costumed, coy, or smug. Their songs are about being gay. The sincerity of this album is completely disarming. The music itself is well-made synth-pop with the occasional jazzy touch. The two strongest songs on the album, "Why?" and "Smalltown Boy", are getting substantial airplay on our local sine-wave station CFNY, so it looks as if Bronski Beat may even make it commercially. I don't know if the video for "Smalltown Boy" will play on MTV, but it's one of the few videos that deserve watching. Surprise! It tells a story. Recommended to non-Puritans of all sexual persuasions. Eugene Fiume U of Toronto