“You leave in the morning with everything you own in a little black case…”

In 1984, synth-pop trio Bronski Beat dropped the iconic ‘Smalltown Boy’. A tender tune charting a young gay man leaving home after being queerbashed, it shot to the top of the charts internationally and became an enduring anthem highlighting homophobia as the LGBTQ+ scene developed in the ensuing decades.

Flipping the script over 40 years later, Pattern Perception has recorded ‘Smalltown Girl’ with self-styled London pop icon Starling. It’s a bold move, but it works. Built around a deep burrowing bassline, nifty synth-work and Starling’s soaring, emotive vocal, it’s one of the standout cuts from Pattern Perception’s ‘Spectrum Disorder’ album on Out Yer Box Records.

“I was always a huge fan of the original,” says Dave Patterns. “When I heard the original 12” version it had an extended intro, which I thought would work really well with the building synths and Reese bass that I’m known for. Starling’s input came later after I realised that I wouldn’t be able to release my version with the original vocal. When she sent back her version, I could still feel the message resonating through the track but from the perspective of a female.” This new version still has the power to touch your soul.

Stepping up first on remix duties is none other than garage hero Zed Bias, in cahoots with his pal Metrodome. Taking it in more of a dubstep direction at first, he then unleashes a big booming bassline, a slamming, kick-ass breakbeat and some garagey beats to lift it into the heavens.

Next up, Birmingham bassline badboys Bass Dominators come with the speed garage vibes on their bouncy rework. Warbling bass, skippy beats and judicious use of breaks in the breakdown turn ‘Smalltown Girl’ into one for the garage floors. Think: Girls Don’t Sync, Sammy Virji, and anyone else part of the nu garage revival.

Finally, Sam Townsend — boss of the Untidy Tax label, sister label to Tidy Trax — turns it techno at first, before hard house synths pop it into an alternative dancefloor realm. Banger. Think: Hannah Laing, Kettama and the nu hard dance massive.

This is a strong package for a strong release. Your support is appreciated as always.