Now and Forever (Kim Wilde album)

Background

After three albums featuring a consistent pop sound, Wilde decided it was time for another change and chose to make an album with a decided soul/R&B feel to it. Ricky Wilde still produced, but joined forces with CJ Mackintosh for four of the album's tracks and co-produced with the Serious Rope team for seven others.

Opening with "Breakin' Away", an obvious dance track, and including R&B tracks like "C'mon Love Me", "You're All I Wanna Do" and "Where Do You Go From Here", the album was a departure from the familiar Wilde sound and didn't please fans and audience. It was her first album not to chart in the UK, and Radio One refused to add "Breakin' Away" to its airplay lists. The album was a daring move for Wilde, who wanted to make something to please herself first and foremost. Her interest in music by artists such as Chaka Khan and Pebbles heavily influenced the album.

Lyrically, the songs were either very happy ("Sweet Inspiration", "Heaven", "High on You") or bordering on depression ("Now & Forever", "Hold On"). Two singles were released in the UK, "Breakin' Away" and the second being "This I Swear", a dubious choice given the array of more radio-friendly songs on the album. The flip-side, "Heaven", was remixed twice (once mix by Matt Darey) and helped sales, but "This I Swear" stalled at No. 46 in early 1996.

Now & Forever was Wilde's last album before she started working in the musical Tommy and wound down her pop career. During the twelve-month run of the play, she remixed and released a version of the disco track "Shame", which had been recorded in the Now & Forever sessions but not included on the album.

Critical response

Q described Wilde's voice as "more likable than impressive" but praised her ability to adapt "to prevailing trends like a blank canvas". Favorably comparing the album to the recent work of Kylie Minogue, the reviewer notes: "Wilde has taken on the trappings of swingbeat, soft soul and jazziness; unlike the Australian, she's done so with convincing songs, invested with enough charisma to make them hers.". "This I Swear" was described as melodic and charming while the "eminently catchy" and "gutsy" "High on You" was compared to the work of Five Star. Spencer Bright, reviewing for The Daily Mail, was less impressed and bemoaned that Wilde had "regressed into someone with a bubblegum dancey style with weak material that wastes her fine voice."

Track listing

1. "Breakin' Away"
2. "High on You"
3. "This I Swear"
4. "C'mon Love Me"
5. "True to You"
6. "Hypnotise"
7. "Heaven"
8. "Sweet Inspiration"
9. "Where Do You Go from Here"
10. "Hold On"
11. "You're All I Wanna Do"
12. "Life & Soul"
13. "Now & Forever"
14. "Back to Heaven"
15. "Staying with My Baby" (Japanese bonus track)