The ‘80s had a bundle of unique leading ladies at the forefront of the Pop and Rock world. Of course, there was Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, and Pat Benatar, but there was also Bonnie Tyler, rising teen phenoms like Debbie Gibson, and none other than the UK’s Kim Wilde.
Wilde, the daughter of parents with music in their blood, started her own journey into music quite young. Getting her feet wet, so to speak, by the time the early ‘80s hit, she was ready for a major impact, and that is exactly what happened with the 1981 debut single “Kids in America.” A hit that broke through in various markets, including the US, her self-titled debut album would strike gold while topping numerous international charts.
One heck of a way to make a first impression, Wilde continued to find success in the years to follow with her unique blend of Pop, Rock, and New Wave sounds heard on albums like 1982’s Select, 1983’s Catch as Catch Can, and more. Moving along nicely, Wilde then took the world by storm in 1986 with her distinctive rendition of “You Keep Me Hangin’ On, “which eventually reached No. 1 in the USA.
In all, Wilde scored a slew of Top Ten hits around the world in the ‘80s before sustaining more praise into the ‘90s, 2000s, and beyond. An inspiring story, while not widely publicized, Wilde is considered one of the most successful singers of the ‘80s and became the most-charted British female solo act of the decade. So, where is Kim Wilde these days?
Well, she has remained active, releasing her fourteenth studio album, Here Come the Aliens, back in 2018. Beyond this, in 2021, she put out an in-depth box set to celebrate forty years of her music called Pop Don’t Stop: Greatest Hits. Furthermore, Wilde has even spent time as a radio host in recent years. However, as we launch 2025, it has been nearly seven years since we heard a new album from Wilde. A long time, fear not, because, on January 31st, she will return with a brand-new album entitled Closer.
It is set for release through Cherry Red Records, and it is interesting to find Wilde titling it Closer when she released the album Close back in 1988. Looking back to then, Close was a massive hit for Wilde in several parts of the world. An album that unified uptempo Dance beats with Synth-pop, Wilde even had a supporting slot for Michael Jackson’s European tour at the time. Fascinating pieces of history to ponder, it seems fitting that Wilde would call this new album in 2025 Closer because it honestly feels like a long lost relative to the elder release. Almost as if it is a missing bridge to this period of time, Closer has a generous mix of more modern Dance vibes with classic ‘80s Synthpop but also some other engaging elements.
Complete with ten tracks, it features the single “Trail of Destruction,” which emerged in the summer of 2024 as an early preview. This song alone displays Wilde’s ability to create a Dance track that is modern yet still rooted in something very mature and dignified. This is while the most recent single, “Midnight Train,” feels almost like it would fit perfectly next to something recorded by Wild during the “Kids in America” era. The same could be said for tracks like “Scorpio,” which also has a Punk Rock energy, but you cannot overlook the diversity in the remainder of this album.
First, Wilde does not necessarily stick to one style on Closer. Yes, the album is cohesive, but the mood is different from one song to the next. For example, “Sorrow Replaced” and “Lighthouse” are more haunting, dreamy Pop tracks, while “Rocket To The Moon” has a very Rock-n-Roll feel, and “Stones and Bones” has a perfectly synthesized sound.
Overall, Closer is really a delightful album and a wonderful return from Kim Wilde. It possesses thoughtful introspection into life and the world at hand but also offers a sense of light in the darkness. In support of the album, Wilde will also be heading out on a UK and European tour in March, but nothing has been announced for North America just yet. Let us hope that changes, but until then, Cryptic Rock will give Kim Wilde’s Closer 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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