Fans have been hanging on for these…
The worldwide smash hit Kids In America – a highlight of Kim Wilde’s self-titled 1981 debut – remains an impressive peak of pop perfection, but it’s unfair to think of her career as downhill from then on.
The frenetic pace of change that galvanised 80s pop led to many shifts in direction and her first three LPs, revisited here in comprehensive detail, reflect some of this fragmented focus. The first is choppy, enganging powerpop; Select never entirely nails new wave (the glorious Cambodia aside); while Catch As Catch Can is patchy and led to a leap to a new label and the first of many career comebacks. Fans have been waiting a long time for career-spanning deluxe reissues; let’s hope these mark the beginning of a comprehensive series.
