Songs of the Robocalypse Vol. 1 - Daisy Bell

Here's where the musical proof that robots will destroy ALL OF US begins. A historic recording of the first singing computer performing Harry Dacre's 'Daisy Bell,' (which would in turn give us the most famous singing computer- the HAL 9000).

The piece was created at Bell Labs in 1961 using an IBM 704 (or 7094 depending on who you ask). The vocals were programmed by John Kelly - a Texan scientist, gunslinger and pilot, while the backing was arranged by Max Matthews - a trailblazer in the creation of computer music and sampling.

There's something haunting about the recording- it's easy to see why Kubrick took inspiration from the piece for 2001: A Space Odyssey. As a listening experience it's aurally anachronistic, simultaneously archaic and futuristic. It's the sound of a Victorian brain being kept alive by a Speak and Spell.