Next month, The Likes Of You tent at Future Music Festival is set to host two live acts whose influence over dance music is undeniable. The first is Plastikman, the “weird and introverted” alter-ego of Richie Hawtin that came to life again in 2010 with a run of next-level shows. The second is of course electronic pioneers Leftfield.

Spearheaded by Neil Barnes (his co-creator Paul Daley opted out of the reunion to focus on other recording projects, but gave it his blessing), Leftfield returned to the UK festival circuit last June after a long hiatus. From the seminal Song Of Life opening the set-list right through to the heavy workout of Phat Planet, the shows left fans with ringing ears and muddled minds. Very soon it’s our turn – and if you’re in Sydney or Melbourne, there’s now the option of a double-dose.

When inthemix bailed up Barnes for a chat in his studio, we were keen to know how the Leftfield experience translates from heaving festival tents to theatre venues.

“We keep it much the same, just make it longer [for headline shows],” he enthused. “Because it’s for the real Leftfield fans – they get an extra 15 minutes! We’re doing an hour and 45 minutes. We do about nine tracks at about eight minutes each; I can’t really shorten them without turning them into something they’re not. It’s a very intricate and complicated thing to perform. There are a lot things that can go wrong.”

The band that Barnes has assembled ensures the true spirit of Leftfield is upheld. Among the players are original vocalists Djum Djum, Earl 16 and Cheshire Cat.

“Because we don’t work on the same BPM all the way, I can’t just say ‘Oh let’s do Afrika Shox next, instead of Black Flute ’,” Barnes goes on. “I could probably technically do it, but that’s not how they music of Leftfield works. There’s a strict order to it: a beginning, middle and end. Just like Leftfield albums, it’s a real journey. We’ve got live drums, lots of keyboards, effects, different vocals, percussion; it’s not just turn up and press a computer.”

As those “real Leftfield fans” will know, Barnes and Daley were always volume junkies. Nothing’s changed. Leftfield shows are loud. “I do get very disappointed about the quality of the sound systems at UK festivals, that does my head in,” says Barnes. “I get the flack from people complaining about the sound, but the councils in Great Britain have got such restrictions.”

As you can see from this photo taken at one of Leftfield’s UK shows, they can still make plaster fall from the sky…