The vocoder: who in music has done the best things with it?

With global recession imminent I feel an urge to hirkle and hunker down with some great vocoder music, although I'm not sure where to start. From its beginnings, who are the finest exponents?

vocoder top 25

Wow. Uncanny, started only last week!

Reading thru, what no Walter/Wendy?

Why is everyone over there speaking in tongues?

robutt tongues

http://120years.net/machines/vocoder/

http://www.lastdaysofmanonearth.com/media/JonzunCrew/Jonzun_Big.jpg

This is my favourite record with vocoder. It even has a vocoder ballad!

http://dreamchimney.com/slvs/617141_20060809040953.jpg

This one's quite good too.

http://www.gabryponte.info/images/gfx/gabry2o.jpg
King of the vocoder

http://www.electrofunkroots.co.uk/i/planet_rock.jpg

http://www.electrofunkroots.co.uk/i/planet_rock.jpg

http://www.electrofunkroots.co.uk/i/planet_rock.jpg

man parrish - heatstroke

Cynic - Focus
Old - Formula

but nothing touches:

Klaatu's "Little Neutrino"

"Pretty" Tony Butler.

don't know if the talkbox use disqualifies Mr. Roger Troutman on technicality but at least deserves a nod of respect.

ryuichi sakamoto's "summer nerves" has some pretty delicious vocoding--same model herbie uses on "Sunlight" (and one of like 4-5 ever produced if i'm not mistaken)

where's startrekman when you need him, huh

I like it when folks do vocoder harmonies. Dynamix II does this really well.

Also, Maggotron is pretty great with the vocal effects, having the smurf-voice guy and the Darth-Vader voice guy do a kind of call-and-response (not sure if it's vocoder they are using though).

Stevie Wonder.

Laurie Anderson

That track on the first Labradford album where they read the album credits.

I like it when folks do vocoder harmonies. Dynamix II does this really well.

Also, Maggotron is pretty great with the vocal effects, having the smurf-voice guy and the Darth-Vader voice guy do a kind of call-and-response (not sure if it's vocoder they are using though).

― Romeo Jones, Thursday, October 30, 2008 7:18 PM (Yesterday) Bookmar

Maggotron (aka DXJ) does use a vocoder. DXJ's aliases and catalog run deep and long. Probably the longest running in Miami.

Dynamix went through a number of incarnations between 1987 and now, so you really gotta figure out what you're after. This tune might be what most on this thread might be searching for once they wear out "Just Give the DJ a Break":

Dynamix II - Arrival Of Bass

(check out those occasional Omar Santana edits in this version!)

The third in the Miami Electro bass vocoder trilogy is MC A.D.E., who's dark, DARK vocoder tone is many people's favorite.

How Much Can You Take

Da Train

uh, t-pain?

t-pain uses (some say abuses) the auto-tune, no?

even he was calling it the Vocoder on the BET Hip-Hop awards. It's like do we give up and just let everybody called Autotune "vocoder" or do we act like pedantic music dorks and correct them every time it comes up? Of course you know what I'll say.

"My Other Voice" by Sparks or "Moscow Discow" by Telex

I'm always psyched to hear good use of vocoder in metal. Thrones, Meshuggah, Voivod...

Autobahn, The Man-Machine - Kraftwerk
Behind the Mask, Technopolis - YMO
There's some nice vocoder work on Air's Moon Safari album.

"The Robots" is obvious, but otherwise it seems that the funk/electro scene has been better at using it than the synthpoppers. Great effect/instrument anyway (I have used it myself on a certain track too, you know...)

Chris Morris.

Keep away from the guy with the funny eye.
Keep away from the funny-eyed guy.

Keeping the Warp records link going, Plone did some amazing things on 'For Beginner Piano' before disappearing into obscurity.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Incidentally, why has no one has mentioned Wendy Carlos?

I don't know but Wendy Carlos is incredible. Still, my favourite of her stuff (Beauty In the Beast) isn't vocoder craziness. Clockwork Orange is a whirlwind of greatness though. My favourite thing about that movie by some difference.

http://www.imeem.com/exonsama/music/st8jaTwD/poni_hoax_hypercommunication_alter_ego_remix/

No Schnauss, no cred.

Easy Lee.

http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/170/MI0003170849.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

... wall-to-wall vocoders... includes version of "On the Road Again", Canned Heat + Vocoders two of my favourite things!

can't believe Tuomas mentioned Jonzun Crew already. that was my mention. big up me instead.

Thought maybe revive was because somebody was reading How To Wreck A Nice Beach.

FUTURE obvs