Kim Wilde needs no introduction and has been a celebrated pop artist since her debut single ‘Kids In America’ reached No2 in 1981. Other hits such as ‘Chequered Love’, ‘Cambodia’, ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’, ‘You Came’ and ‘Four Letter Word’ followed.

Part of a British rock ‘n’ roll dynasty, her father Marty was a highly respected star in his own right while her brother Ricky had his own flirtation with teen pop stardom before settling to become a record producer with the late Mickey Most acting as his mentor.

The new album ‘Closer’ is Kim Wilde’s first studio album since 2018’s ‘Here Come The Aliens’ but perhaps more important conceptually, it is Intended as a companion record to her 1988 album ‘Close’ from which came ‘You Came’ and ‘Four Letter Word’.

Produced as usual by Ricky Wilde and featuring several songwriting contributions from his daughter and her niece Scarlett, ‘Closer’ is another family affair with regular live band members Paul Cooper (bass) and Neil Jones (guitar) also on board. With Kim, Ricky and Scarlett writing lyrics across the record, the introspective themes are both personal and universal.

The enjoyable first single ‘Trail Of Destruction’ highlights parental concerns about the environment and political discourse, acting a throbbing synth-laden anthem with Euro-rock vibes seeping in to makes a powerful fist-pumping statement.

But ‘Closer’ begins proper with ‘Midnight Train’, a vibrant slice of cutting synthesizer-driven rock in the vein of ULTRAVOX complete with wailing solos and as a result, recalls imperial phase BERLIN. And as if by magic in response, Midge Ure appears and duets on the orchestrated filmic drama of ‘Sorrow Replaced’.

A quick calendar check confirms it is not 1981 but composed by Ricky and Scarlett, ‘Scorpio’ sounds as if could be from that year’s self-titled Kim Wilde debut and is a highly enjoyable new wave throwback to when she was ready to take on Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde and Hazel O’Connor. A Kim and Ricky co-write, the mightily heartfelt ‘Lighthouse’ sees our heroine proving she is still in fine voice after 44 years in music, recalling the up-and-coming German popwave songstress NINA who Ricky Wilde recorded an excellent album with in 2023 called ‘Scala Hearts’.

Bristling with a soaring fervour, ‘Love Is Love’ can be best described as a sizzling dance stomper which hits the highs and would make a fitting entry for Eurovision. Meanwhile ‘Rocket To The Moon’ hits the energetic Schaffel button to take on Alison Goldfrapp at her own game and even adds a bit of Suzi Quatro along the way.

With layered synthetic hooks and a smothering of chunky six string interventions, ‘Hourglass Human’ sees Kim in a spirited duet with Scarlett while the electronically pumped ‘Stones & Bones’ provides a further rousing character to the album as it heads into the home straight. Closing ‘Closer’, the gorgeous ‘Savasana’ intros as a moody ballad before a percolating bass acts as the hypnotic engine room to a cinematic backdrop of synths, piano, guitars and layered vocals.

Kim has said of this album: “’Closer’ has truly been an absolute joy to make… it feels like the natural companion to ‘Close’ from 1988, and I believe it serves as a perfect reflection of where I find myself today, musically speaking.”

There is something of a heartwarming nostalgia to ‘Closer’ while it is also fresh and uplifting despite the sadness in some of its lyrical gists. Immediate but never sounding tiresome in the way some albums by artists of past eras can and have sounded, this is an album that will make long standing fans very happy. But with its classic blend of new wave, synth, pop, rock and dance, it may also see the return of those who bought Kim Wilde records in the past but may not have done so for over 30 years 😉🎶

‘Closer’ is released by Cherry Red Records on 31 January 2025 as a CD, black vinyl LP, limited edition white vinyl LP and download

Kim Wilde 2025 UK Tour:

Birmingham Symphony Hall (14 March), Manchester Academy (15 March), Bristol Beacon (16 March), Cambridge Corn Exchange (18 March), London IndigO2 (19 March), Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (21 March), Sheffield City Hall (22 March), York Barbican (23 March), Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (25 March)

For more information on European tour dates and how to purchase tickets, visit https://www.kimwilde.com/tour-dates

https://www.facebook.com/officialkimwilde

https://www.instagram.com/kimwildeofficial/

Text by Chi Ming Lai
29 January 2025