After exhaustively delayed trains, I finally arrived at the QEH to see German gods To Rococo Rot and two support acts I did not know in any depth. A couple of pints later and I found my seat in the second row, replete with free CD from the generous city slang label who on this night celebrated their tenth anniversary - and an excellent label they are. On their roster, the likes of Calexico, Tortoise (who lamentably didn't play tonight) and To Rococo Rot.

First up were the Experimental Pop Band, who gave a competent set full of sixties garage punk riffs and the intelligent view of sampling - if the technology is there, then abuse it. I earmark this band for success - they have personality, and most importantly stage presence with nods in the direction of Sonic Youth circa 1985 to The Living Ends circa 1966. I hope to catch this collective in a standing venue soon, sitting to this music was not ideal.

Next up was Schneider^TM who failed to move me in any way other than lamenting the leaving of the first group. I was in a minority, however - their Apex Twin styled covers of The Smiths seemed to win everyone else over. Post modern excess, or wry styling? You decide. That's not to say that they were without merit - their set improved and was fairly inventive compared to the vast majority of dance/electronica and some of their shortcomings may have been down to the sound engineers.

Holy smoke! To Rococo Rot appear. I had always believed them a trio, but tonight they played as a quartet. Was this the producer D who they have worked with before?

Their set was nearly faultless, the drumming and electronics were crystalline and razor sharp, the audience rapt. The bass player, bizarrely, sounded out of tune, - couldn't he have bothered tuning his guitar? They played most of their favoured tunes and cracked some strange jokes in broken German/English about stealing the chairs from the venue!!!

New material also made its world debut, and YOW - Can't wait for their next album. Too often, electronic music does not perfectly translate to the live venue. To Rococo Rot are a shining exception, conveying more energy and depth than their fine studio recordings do at home: Power to them.