The ‘problem’ with Brian Eno is that he’s much too cerebral for a lot of Brits. Many of us seem to hate the intellectual, the arty sod, the musical polymath. His musical CV is ridiculously good, but it prompts suspicion, fear, loathing and a “tear him down” Brit jealousy perfectly illustrated by the Sleaford Mods lyric, “Brian Eno, Brian Eno, what the fuck does he know?” Trouble is he knows quite a lot as I’ve just suggested. Much of which is worth knowing and, oh no, worth reading about too (most Brits are suspicious of readers too). His new book What Art Does written in collaboration with writer and illustrator, Bette Adriaanse, firmly puts to the sword the idea that he lives this rarified, forbidding arty life that won’t admit the average bloke/blokette from, you know, ‘the street’. One of the points of the book is to present art as an everyday experience that we, yes Brits too, partake in whether we know it or not, as he said in a recent interview, “Everybody is living in art. You know, even people who don’t call themselves artists are doing makeup, choosing clothes, going to events like dances or raves or nightclubs.” What are your deep likes? Eno and Adriaanse would argue that’s art. And if an artist’s deep likes are what they think about and create, how do they go about this and what does it mean for them (as artists) and for us (as art lovers, consumers and critics)? If you’re currently in the deep winter doldrums this witty, imaginative and inspirational book is the perfect tonic.

What Art Does: An Unfinished Theory – Brian Eno & Bette A. – published by Faber - £14.99

Steven Long