Date: 29 January 2025
Published in: Sächsische Zeitung (Germany)
Written by: Philip Dethlefs
On her new studio album, Kim Wilde returns musically to the decade of her greatest successes. It is no coincidence that the title “Closer” is reminiscent of the pop icon’s earlier work.
London. She is one of the pop icons of the 80s. Hits like “Kids In America”, “Chequered Love” and “You Came” became catchy tunes and are still played on the radio today. After seven years, the 80s queen returns musically to the decade of her greatest successes on her new album. “Closer”, the album, which is released on Friday, is characterized by the mixture of new wave, pop and rock with strong melodies that once made Wilde famous – and of course by her unmistakable voice.
Musical trip through the 80s
Recording her 15th album was “an absolute joy,” enthuses the 64-year-old in the accompanying text. It’s no coincidence that it is reminiscent of her old successes in terms of sound and lyrical style. “It feels like the natural companion to ‘Close’ from 1988,” she explains, “and I think it perfectly reflects where I am today musically.” It’s almost like a look back to the future. It starts with the thick, atmospheric synthesizer soundscapes and pulsating drums of “Midnight Train”. This conjures up images of neon lights, laser beams, artificial fog and disco balls in the mind. The music video looks a little different, however. The song culminates in a crashing electric guitar solo. The intro of “Scorpio” is suspiciously reminiscent of the classic that started it all for Kim Wilde, “Kids In America”.
On “Closer” she has enlisted the support of another 80s icon. Duet with another 80s pop icon Former Ultravox singer and jack-of-all-trades Midge Ure (“Dancing With Tears In My Eyes”, “If I Was”) sings the melancholic “Sorrow Replaced” with her. “Hourglass Human”, one of the more modern numbers on the album, is a duet with her niece Scarlett Wilde, who also regularly accompanies her aunt on tour.
At 64, Kim Wilde sounds almost like she did when “Close” was released at 28. This is especially true of her distinctive, nasal voice, which has hardly changed over the years. But it also applies to her style and sound. This synthesizer-heavy, powerful pop is catchy. The second half of the album – previously known as the B-side – is not as rousing as the first. Nevertheless, Kim Wilde has managed to create a really good late work with “Closer” that is fun. The new songs can probably be experienced live from November. Kim Wilde currently has eleven concerts planned in Germany on her tour, including Leipzig and Berlin.
