British pop groups Ladytron and Simian will bring their electronic sound to the Wexner Center tonight.

Both groups make use of electronic instruments and both use vocals, but their sounds vary, said Chuck Helm, artistic director at the Wexner Center.

“The electronics are more pronounced in Ladytron. Electronics are part of what Simian does, but it’s more of a balance of conventional instruments. Simian has more of a kind of slightly psychedelic sound,” he said.

Helm said ’80s rock acts such as Kraftwerk, The Human League and Depeche Mode are predecessors to the music of Ladytron. It is an electro-pop act which makes use of analog synthesizers and other devices used in Kraftwerk’s era to achieve its sound, he said.

Kyle McCarty, an employee at Used Kids Records, said Ladytron is an updated version of the group Kraftwerk that incorporates live bass and drums into its sound.

The use of bass and drum will be a departure from the band’s earlier work.

“The earlier records were all synthesizers. Now, they’ll actually have a drummer and a bass player to give them a bigger more, powerful live sound,” Helm said.

According to an interview in Columbus Alive, the members of Ladytron are trying to distance themselves from current trends in electronic music.

“I think it’s true, but there is no doubt there is definitely a relationship. Those ideas are big influences, but they are trying to put a fresh spin on them, and I think they’re successful at that,” Helm said.

Ladytron can’t escape some comparisons to its predecessors.

“Electro has definitely made a comeback in the last couple of years. There is a big trend of artists borrowing from the ’80s and doing the electro thing,” McCarty said.

The concert will take place in the Wexner Center performance space and should draw an audience from the entire region, said Karen Simonian, spokeswoman for the Wexner Center. She said the atmosphere of the Wexner performance space is especially well-suited for this kind of performance because it resembles an intimate loft or a club.

“The Wexner Center is sort of an outpost in this region for these kinds of bands to stop and perform,” Simonian said.

The Wexner Center has brought a number of electronic bands to the Columbus area.

“If you really look at the kinds of bands that come through, I wouldn’t characterize it as biased towards electronic. But there are also a lot of interesting new electronic groups, whether they’re the guys that are strictly using laptops and digital tools, or people like Sigur Rós or Clinic who are using more conventional instruments,” Helm said.

Successful concerts have the effect of making other bands take notice, giving the Wexner Center the opportunity to attract talent to its venues, said Helm.

Ladytron and Simian will perform at 9 p.m. today atthe Wexner Center. Tickets are $14 for the public and $12 for students and Wexner Center members.