At some point, you may have heard the oft-quoted line, “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” Most days, I’d be inclined to disagree (considering my profession, I’d have to, right?), but those are the days I’m not writing about a band like Beats Antique. You could describe the San Francisco trio as world music meets electronica, but that’s just combining two of the most overused (yep, guilty here), non-descriptive descriptors in music-genre labeling history. “Shadowbox,” the band’s 10th album, muddies the waters even more. Recorded in celebration of the band’s 10th anniversary, the set features Beats Antique’s usual calling cards — unusual acoustic instrumentation from around the world, cutting-edge beats and epic instrumental songwriting — while forging new paths through just about every form of music you could name, old and new (highlight: “Let it All Go,” featuring the inimitable sounds of Preservation Hall Jazz Band). Your best bet, as usual, is to head to Midtown Ballroom on Friday and catch the trio live.

Beats Antique, with Alovitiman: 9 p.m. Friday, doors open at 8 p.m.; $27 plus fees in advance, $30 at the door; Midtown Ballroom, 51 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend; midtownballroom.com or 541-408-4329.