VIA “New Elektron“ - 1968-69 (Surf/Bossa Nova, USSR)

ВИА “Новый электрон“ - 1968-69 VIA “Noviy Elektron“ - 1968-69 “New Elektron“ was a soviet ensemble active throughout the 60s and early 70s, although largely their instrumental work is all that had survived the winds of time. Formed in the Lipetsk Philharmonic, Moscow, by frontman Valery Prikazchikov after transferring the name from an earlier group, Noviy Elektron was known for their surf melodies and adaptations of western songs which were largely non-existent in the “professional“ stage at that time, as well as being backing for singers such as Alla Pugacheva and Muslim Magomayev, the “Frank Sinatra of the Soviet Union“. The group continued working silently in the background til their eventual dissipation in 1970. While not strictly a VIA per se, more of a jazz quartet, Noviy Elektron did perform backing in concerts. Unfortunately, Valery Prikazchikov died in a car accident in 1985, some 30 years after the group formed. More info can be found he