It depends really. Depends on my mood, or what vibe it gives off.

I tend to prefer most without vocals.

Vocals! Usually female voices are really getting to me....

It depends on what kind of Electronica and on what kind of vocals.
I mean, if we're talking bout a soulful / funny / crazy track, powerful singers and rappers are OK.
But, if we're talking bout a deep and introspective track, the best would be the Dub Poetry and Spoken Word kind of vocals. Traditional singers would compromise the track's depth.

Really depends on the genre.

No vocals ~80% of the time.

Yep, no vocals here. I think it's the fact that electronic music has a certain audiophiliac feel to it that's in sharp contrast to a human voice. If there are to be vocals, let them be autotuned or otherwise heavily engineered.

Right, most of the time when I'm listening to electronic music it's because I want to hear something alien, something that wasn't produced through conventional methods with traditional instruments, new sounds that are only possible through electronics and clever software. Of course there are more pop oriented groups where vocals are suitable, first recent group that comes to mind is CHVRCHES, but I think the majority of electronic music (meaning everything outside of dance music) is more often than not about using technology to transcend the limitations of traditional instruments rather than designing a simple foundation to sing over. But again, vocals certainly have their place even in experimental electronic music if they're sufficiently manipulated.

1000% agree.

I think sampled vocals work best with electronic music, particularly when they sound amorphous and add an otherworldly feel.

I'm glad to see some agreement on this. Normal vox in electronica just give it an instant club vibe in my eyes (ears)... And I ain't about that life.

it depends

I used to prefer music with no vocals but as my tasted have progressed I like a nice soft vocal to compliment the song in question, sometimes songs just don't suit vocals tho and would sound out of place irregardless. I definitely prefer a wee sing when I'm out, nights out are mostly a good mix of both though :).

With vocals. I really like Random Access Memories and Quack.

It completely depends upon the mood at the very time,Sometimes if you have heavy bass and beat then no vocals would be an option,If its pure electronica then few signature vocals at the start would add some groove to the track...

Depends, without is generally better but I have a lot of tracks with vocals that are killer too :)

Totally agreed with Xujih ,without vocals tracks are slightly better but you cannot compare it with the vocals one,as they also signifies the track equally.

I don't listen to much electronica, but I tend to prefer those with lyrics. Which is not to say I don't like some without it too.

i kinda like the no vocals on this one..

vocals



w/o vocals..

I have no preference, as long as it's good.

I prefer it to have lyrics but I like either

I think it just depends for me but I don't have an exact answer. In my opinion, if the sounds are just good enough to have vocals then that's fine. I think there are many electronic tracks out there that I would prefer to be instrumentals alone but it would be nice if they had some singing in most of them or maybe just a few.

Vocals keep electronica from becoming repetitive and mind-numbing.

You must not know what breakcore is

I do, actually. It's not my bag.

I prefer not to have vocals in the Electronica music I listen too. The human voice can only be so interesting, an instrument can do much more.

However there are some exceptions. Sometimes I like it when an odd phrase is used to enhance the effect the song is trying to portray. Though it's hard to find something lyrical that I'd like.

I like instrumental electronic the most, just my preference. If you're gonna go synth, go all out synth.

I love both
 

Depends on the mood im in for sure but I do feel as if I like less vocals more.

prefer vocals on this one...

I prefer vocals set to a high-energy tempo, but I like instrumentals as well.

with vocals only

On the whole, I opt for ambient electronic soundscapes, so lyrics are a definite-no. But I make a specific exception for Underworld Mk1-3 and all of Karl's other projects. His stream-of-consciousness lyricism is artful and a refreshing departure from the usual lyrical drivel.

(You know... heady stuff like, "lager, lager, lager...")

Totally prefer without, the music is the star with this music

As opposed to the music not being the star with that other music?

What if this song didn't have vocals?

Electronica is Electronica; the main focus is on the music and how you project your emotional state to it.

Nice thing about Electronica, it's the music that can vary in energy levels.

Yeah vocals can quickly start to sound samey. Can't complain about Jess mills though...

Definitely with female vocals and sometimes male vocals too! It spices the track really up and makes a party hit in festivals or in clubs. For example the soundtrack: When will the bass drop to hype the track up to the last second of the loud hard deep drop of the bass.

Here is a better example why dubstep is hardcore&smooth at the same time:
check my youtube channel since i have vocal dubstep soundtrack that blows your mind up since it wont let me alone in my mind :dj:
bit.ly/crsdubstep

as long as the song isnt too long with the same repeated boring lyrics, it should be good.

I think it would be fine either way, as there's enough variation in the beat to make it listenable without vocals in this particular case.

I don't necessarily have a problem with it if the song is really good, but I'm often left wondering:

(a) Were there production limitations?
(b) Did they not have a chance to record more material with the vocalist, thinking that the first recordings would be sufficient? Yet, when they went to put everything together, maybe it would only work a certain way from what they originally intended.
(c) Are they just being lazy by being so bloody repetitive?