British songbird Kim Wilde might have scored her sole US number one with a synthpop reworking of “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”, but she’s kept the synthesisers well away for this festive-themed album. The result is probably her most tender and beautiful album yet.
Now, this isn’t strictly a completely new release – it’s actually an expanded version of the original Wilde Winter Songbook put out for the Christmas of two years earlier, hence the ‘deluxe’ tag. But for those who missed it first time round, it’s certainly the right time of year to sample Kim’s duets with fellow 1980s pop legends Nik Kershaw and Rick Astley, plus original numbers like the jolly 1950s-style “Hey Mr. Snowman”.
Many of the songs are simply about having typically seasonal fun – but others see Kim in more reflective mood. “Song for Beryl” and “New Life”, both inspired by personal experiences, fall into this bracket and are particularly moving. Meanwhile, of the new material added for the Deluxe Edition, the most obvious attraction is the cover of Wham! classic “Last Christmas” – which suits Kim’s dulcet tones as much as you’d expect. In Kershaw’s words, “Happy Chrimbo, Kim-bo!”