Mouse On Mars/Oval/Stockhausen @ The Barbican, London

PHOTOS: BILLY STEIGER

I can't conceal the fact that my initial interest in this event was the airing of Stockhausen's Gesang der Jünglinge (Song of the Youths). Set to a dimly lit stage, Stockhausen's experimental take on a religious allegory from The Book Of Daniel, combines a 12 year old boy's voice with Stockhausen's signature sine tones and ambient layering of textures and sounds. This created the perfect start for tonight's festivities.

The second support act was OVAL aka Markus Popp. Hunched over his laptop with an eerie, gurning grin on his face, he unfortunately failed to move the audience and seemed to be the only person in the room enjoying his own beats. I'm yet to come across a solo laptop musician who has impressed me live. The search continues....

After a quick changeover, we were greeted by men of the moment, Mouse On Mars presenting us with Paeanumnion, a collaboration between themselves and the orchestral ensemble musikFabrik. Mouse On Mars are leaders in innovative electronic music and unique collaborations. I adore their other side project, Von Südenfed which features the angry man of post-punk, Mark E. Smith on vocals and whose second album is due out in February 2012. I was excited to see what Jan St. Werner and Andi Toma had up their krautrock sleeves.

Encompassing minimalist piano, custom-made percussion and extensive use of extended techniques, this was like no other orchestra. The group's usual mix of heavy industrial beats and grainy synths meshed harmoniously with the more classical soaring string section. The performance demonstrated the true musical progression that this duo have and their ongoing ability to set up challenges and overcome them with creative skill and prowess. Perhaps the most ground-breaking electronic performance I have seen in recent years is The Knife's collaboration with PlanningToRock and Mount Sims - The Origin of the Species - an electronic opera based on Darwin's studies. Paeanumnio, which also premiered at the unique progressive venue that is the Barbican, comes a very close second in terms of boundary-pushing live music.

Congratulations Mouse On Mars and congratulations to the Barbican whose art, film and music curation remains unrivalled in London.