These days, his name might not court quite the same levels of teen-driven adoration that swept him to fame in the mid-eighties, but it's important to not forget that Nik Kershaw's debut album is a real pop gem in its own right. Listening to it in its newly re-issued format, what really strikes out is the quirky individualism of Kershaw himself - at once a proponent of quaintly charming geek-pop on Bogart or purveyor of big-time New Wave arena anthems on the likes of standout Wouldn't It Be Good. The remastering of both the original album and the bonus disc of extended mixes is top-notch, with the bass in particular really purring out beneath the reedy synth melodies. In a record that compares favourably with early a-Ha and Pet Shop Boys as well as Reflex-era Duran Duran, Kersaw's debut is charming as it is inherently 'him', and while for me his peak was subsequent album The Riddle, Human Racing is an esteemed exercise in the art of tightly crafted synth-pop.
Download: Wouldn't It Be Good / Shame On You / Human Racing
The Re-Issued version of Human Racing can be ordered from HMV now.
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