During the course of their nine year run from 1977-1986, New York based “Iskra” was one of the most popular and influential Ukrainian dance bands in North America. Traveling coast to coast across the United States and Canada, “Iskra” consistently filled dance halls and festival venues everywhere between New York and Los Angeles in the U.S., and Montreal and Edmonton north of the border. Their extensive and eclectic repertoire drew from the deep well of Ukrainian folklore, pop hits and standards by Ukrainian songwriters, as well as original compositions by the band members. “Zustrich Svitanku” (English translation: “Greeting the Dawn”), “Iskra’s” second album, was released in 1981, and demonstrated the band’s desire to push the envelope and experiment, particularly in their markedly increased deployment of synthesizers and special effects (as in “Kozak”, “Mamo” and “Liudy”). The signature three part harmony vocal style was still a staple of “Iskra’s” sound, as were the distinctive Ukrainian folk song arrangem