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The Riddle Decoded: Nik Kershaw and the Art of Perfect Pop
Paperback
Publisher Price: $15.99
ISBN13: 9781917969123
Publisher: Iridescent Toad Publishing
Published: Dec 12 2025
Pages: 158
Weight: 0.36
Height: 0.37 Width: 5.00 Depth: 8.00
Language: English
1984 was Nik Kershaw's year. From unknown to household name, his meteoric rise to fame epitomised eighties pop at its most thrilling. But beyond the snood, synthesizers, and that gravity-defying hair lay something more substantial: a songwriter crafting sophisticated pop music.
This unofficial and unauthorised study examines Kershaw's breakthrough period, exploring how he created two of the decade's finest albums and navigated stardom.
The book culminates in a detailed musical analysis of every track from Human Racing and The Riddle. Music scholar Laura Shenton MA LLCM DipRSL reveals the theory behind the pop sheen - the magic that made these songs far more than simple eighties nostalgia.
The Riddle Decoded celebrates Kershaw's artistry during his remarkable breakthrough. It's about the songs that endured, the moment that made them possible, and why, over forty years later, they still sound like perfect pop. Essential reading for fans who always knew there was something special in those songs, and illuminating for anyone who wants to understand how great pop music really works.
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