Lady Gaga has dominated the charts this year with her robotic voice and super slick synth-pop. But that couldn’t quite prepare you for the odd, alien character who stalked the stage — sometimes with very little clothing — at Brixton.

The 23-year-old New Yorker’s commitment to over-the-top outfits has been well documented. This was a chance to get a close-up glimpse of Lady Gaga in all her glory, though, at her first full headline show in London following support slots with Take That at Wembley stadium.

It was a disorientating experience, overall, ranging from humdrum kiddy pop via artful posturing to unbeatable hit singles.

Unfortunately, there are only three of them, and she began with Paparazzi, emerging amid dry ice in her mirrored dress and eye mask from a dalek-style casing.

More pictures: Lady Gaga live in Brixton

“I think that perhaps I have penis envy,” was Gaga’s explanation to the crowd about the various fripperies she’s acquired for her show. Most of the budget must have gone on her many outfits, although the transparent piano filled with plastic balls was impressively extravagant.

She was joined by her band eventually, but it initially sounded far too synthetic and even her male dance troupe looked a bit bored. There was also an element of pop as performance art, with Andy Warhol references in her strange short films and a segment where, clad in a minimal leopard print leotard, she stood posing on her piano stool with her backside thrust in the audience’s direction.

The oddness was accentuated by her wayward commentary, although she did appreciate the fans. “I can’t believe there’s 5,000 people in here,” she said referring to her “little darlings”, which went down well with the teenage girls who had copied her lightning bolt face paint from the videos.

It was uneven but even on dumb tunes such as Boys Boys Boys, Gaga proved she’s got a big voice and can dance, although it looked like she was doing the dusting with her “disco stick” during LoveGame.

The irresistible Just Dance arrived midway and, following her unlikely soulful turn at the piano, Poker Face was held back for the end. It was hard to avoid the sense of hits being rationed, but with Gaga bashing a cymbal and fans leaping around to the biggest single of the year, it was a memorable finale. She certainly makes other pop stars look predictable. But this hour-long visit to Lady Gaga’s world was merely fun when it should have been fabulous.

More pictures: Lady Gaga live in Brixton