Babar lets its music do the talking. What it says is entirely up to the listener. This math-rock trio keeps things instrumental, and complex.
The Denton group composes in a way that is reminiscent of the work of Philip Glass. Using guitar, bass and drums, this instrumental act stacks pattern on pattern - blocks of measured drumming over a steady, percolating guitar. The bass taps along, sometimes folding back over the drums, sometimes skipping ahead of the guitar.
If there's any unpolished messiness that partially defines Denton music, Babar hides it in a rhythmic precision that is happy or plodding, depending on which song you're in.
Babar has additional Denton cred because its three members play for Caleb Ian Campbell, perhaps the lone Denton musician who can spin songs that conjure up pop out of math-rock riffs.
Trivia: The band's name isn't borrowed from the sweet, crowned elephant of the popular children's book series. It's a reference to a cast of Mesopotamian gods - and Babbar is the Sumerian sun deity.
Sounds like: A vintage video game hero - say Dig Dug - broke free from his digital bonds and roamed into a land goverened by a constantly undulating algorithm.
They're with the band: Erik Bowers, bass; Andy Majors, drums; and Michael Briggs, guitar.
Details: Babar joins Denton's Peopleodian and Krautrock-by-way-of-Wisconsin trio El Valiente today at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, 411 E. Sycamore St. Doors open at 9 p.m.; music starts after 10 p.m. Cover is $5 for ages 21 and older, and $7 for those younger than 21.
-Lucinda Breeding
