I like to listen to music with textures, or layers; what I like to think of as dimensions.

Most popular music has a catchy melody, but is two-dimensional; flat.

Really good music has depth, a third dimension.

Sublime music has deeper levels; obscure textures in higher dimensions.

The eminent classical composers knew it (or it was innate within them), many jazz artists figured it out, and some rock musician/composers explored the deeper layers of musical form, but most popular bands miss the mark.

I just listened to Alone Together (1993) by Crowded House (which includes members of Split Enz). The group understands layers, but stumbled slightly on the danger that can materialize from this knowledge: overproduction.

They know how to write melody and create texture, but the sound is too clean and calculated (for my tastes); however, I really did enjoy the CD, and I’d recommend having a listen.