A scientific look at taste

Aimed at the non-specialist, Daniel Levitin tries to answer these and other questions about music. He is good at defining music and explaining theory by using popular examples like Buddy Holly that most people would be able to understand and relate to.

Levitin admits that he is more interested in the sound rather than the song itself, so discussion about the social and political impact of music is sadly limited.

He is also an academic and a sizeable part of the book reads a little too much like a PhD submission. However, if you persevere, there are plenty of interesting facts and anecdotes.

In the end, I'm not sure I want to understand why I appreciate some music and take an instant dislike to other pieces. Or, to put it another way, I don't want to know why, if my home was on fire, I'd rush back in to rescue my vinyl copy of Astral Weeks and complete collection of The Necks CDs. I just will.

RICHARD HILTON