Search - Kim Wilde :: Love Moves

Shows grown up Kim Wilde

Daniel J. Hamlow | 10/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was impressed with the new style of music Kim brought. My favorite on this album is called "Can't say goodbye" and it is still one of my favorite songs since 1992."

Kim's best pop album? It's Here!

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 03/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kim Wilde's Close yielded a new smart pop sound much ignored by the US. Despite being dropped by MCA America, she continued to make music on MCA's British branch. Love Moves continues her pop journey, honing the synth pop sound into something sleeker than Close. Much of the heartwrenching bad love songs like "Four Letter Word," and "Love's A No" mostly absent here, with Wilde showing some optimism."It's Here" about gaining one's perspective and direction in a world of loneliness and broken promises, and realizing that it was actually right front of one's eyes. I think this was a single and the backbeat of drum machines and keyboard synths helps demonstrate a more confident Kim.A more R&B beat, with the same synth and drums, is present in "Love (Send Him Back To Me)" dwells on the egoist machinations that make love conceited and unkind, especially if one ends up being dumped. On the louse she's singing about: "You broke her heart while you gambled with their souls/now she's just another sad adventure you'll forget.""Storm In Our Hearts" has that resonating keyboard and layered chorus vocals that recalls songs like the Human League's "Human" without that annoying effects that sound like someone's chewing gum with their mouth open. It's a case of a recently recovered love, where the protagonist see the broken hearts on the pavement and is thankful she escaped that fate. "Someday" has a similar haunting sound, but about a romantic so disillusioned with the lack of an ideal world, that the person has built a wall around them, disintegrating into fantasy. She hopes that one day, the person will stop living in a fantasy, and open eyes no longer blinded by bitter tears. Maybe someday..."Time" is another rousing dance tune, showing more of Kim's optimism in the areas of love. And then, "Like the rivers need the mountains/just like flowers need the rain/pleasure needs the pain/I'm dreaming for a world in perfect harmony." Yes, "World In Perfect Harmony" has Kim in one of her idealistic advocate modes, set to a lush and cheery synths, and calling for seeing the glass half full.Her one protest song here, "Who's To Blame," decries the world's ills. Where on "Stone," she labelled nuclear testing and buildup as the target, here, she doesn't list anything specific, merely saying that the news on TV has her bummed and she wants to know when the day of reckoning comes with questions demanding responsibility for the state of the world, well, who's to blame?"Can't Get Enough (of Your Love)" is the most ripping song here, using fiery electric guitar, horn-like keyboards, and Pet Shop Boy like synths in a tantara of pop, something outdoing the intensity of her cover of "You Keep Me Hangin' On." This could've been a single for sure.After snippets of Hollywood news items from the radio, Kim argues that love in Hollywood is not the same as ordinary love. "In Hollywood" blames lawyers, the press, lifestyles and the CNN-style news."I Can't Say Goodbye" is a lush wall of strings and synths ballad that isn't about a love parting, but coming back after analyzing all the stupid things that got in the way. More an affirmation of support.The best album of Kim's pop era (Close, Love Moves, Love Is, Now And Forever), and second best album overall (after her self-titled debut), Love Moves has many singleworthy songs and is an album unjustly overlooked. It's albums like this than make me call for a remaster and reissue of her entire back catalogue."