An interesting paper is out that talks about how we listen to music. And, like most things enjoyable, its all about expectations. The funny thing about expectations is that, while we are all built with the mechanics for them and base most of our actions on them, we each have our own particular configuration. A John Cage fan takes the Boredoms in stride, an Enya lover would not (nay, could not. at least not at first). We are pattern making machines with an emphasis on predictions. Feeding music into our brains is like putting Flubber™ in a model-T.
BUT, regardless of our preferences and references, it’s really the un-predictable parts in the pattern that turn us on the most. Not knowing how the pattern connects within itself starts our neurons chattering like a billion switchboard operators.