Slovenian Nightingale: Elda Viler

For such a tiny, little country Slovenia sure always had its share of huge musical talents: along with Marjana Deržaj and Majda Sepe, Elda Viler was a pillar of female pop singers of the 1960s and beyond. There were certain things working against her, namely the fact that Slovenian language is very specific and its market very small (making it almost impossible to leave big impact on much bigger territory of Ex Yu where official language was Serbo-Croatian) and Viler was not exactly a sexpot, but once she started singing it was such a naturally pretty voice that it was impossible to ignore the fact that she might have been one of the best singer around in any competition.

A native of small place near Italian border, Viler must have been listening to a lot of Italian pop music as she grew up, because she sounds exactly like best of them. It is not a coincidence that back in 1960s she recorded a lot of Italian covers (even a whole Italian-language EP recording) and continued to look up to her idols for inspiration trough life, as this generous compilation shows: Mina and Patty Pravo are just some of the singers Viler successfully covered, it is note for note but voice makes all the difference. Where Italian originals relied heavily on recognisable mannerisms, Viler's is natural, bell-like clear instrument that possessed effective flexibility and leaves deceptive impression of gliding trough scales with no effort. Make no mistake, this lady was a born singer (and her daughter apparently inherited this talent).

This compilation is excellent introduction to her best known work: not by any stretch a commercial singer, Viler had a built impressive repertoire of high quality, moody pop ballads where her voice soars backed by huge orchestration typical for 1960s and 1970s. She might have not sold truckloads of these records, but Viler was certainly darling of songwriters, composers and lyrics writers - cream of Slovenian musicians ( Mojmir Sepe, Ati Soss, Jure Robežnik, Gregor Strniša, Elza Budau) seems to have been throwing themselves at her feet and contrary to lots of far more commercially successful artists whose compilations now sounds dated, Viler's life work is and always was classy, sophisticated and hugely enjoyable.

Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" opens this compilation, just to be followed by "A Foggy Day in London Town" and two selections by Antonio Carlos Jobim. This is my kind of singer. There's not a wrong note in all these 25 songs where Viler sprinkles her own star dust on combination of international covers and Slovenian originals, all perfectly arranged and sung with that amazingly effortless voice - and what a voice it was! Had she been born somewhere in the west, Viler would already have her pick between sold out concert halls around the world - unfortunately her lot was to spend life where destiny had placed her and raise her family in these circumstances, with all joys and disappointments this brings.

It is impressive recapitulation of her 1970s work, lots of orchestrated pop and massive amount of best Slovenian songwriters behind her, the list of composers and lyrics writers reads as Who's who in Slovenian music scene. There is occasional performance from Ex Yu pop festivals where frankly Viler couldn't leave any impressions because of the language barriers but her Slovenian language recordings were impeccable. Jazzy improvisations of Carmichael and Gershwin are purposely toned down for pop material, however there is distinctive musicality and vision in everything she did and even if these recordings were not a money-making business, what Viler left behind is pure gold. I only wish that someone collects her earlier, 1960s work, it sure must have been hiding in some archives because lady first debuted on big stage back in 1964. If you are familiar with music of Ditka Haberl, Viler is like her older sister with somewhat richer voice.

This double CD and DVD with live celebration of 50 years on the stage is a fitting tribute to Slovenian songbird, a handsome package and surprisingly strong recapitulation of her place on music scene. It is a truly and anthology of best Slovenian songwriting as cream of composers, lyrics writers and arrangers were involved, providing Elda Viler with music that stands up with anything recorded in other parts of Europe during 1960s and 1970s.

The package is true cornucopia and embarrassment of riches - if live concert performance of still vital singer and her numerous guests has not already floored you, there is a CD with her "greatest hits" (much loved pop classics) and most interestingly of all, a whole CD of unreleased archive stuff that is simply mind-boggling because it actually almost overshadows more popular repertoire. This unreleased collection was pulled out of all sorts of festival performances, unreleased takes and unused tracks showing off Viler's mellow and flexible voice in dazzling variety of surroundings, one of these songs ("Bird of Paradise") was even used for a title of whole compilation. Her own take on "Insieme" by Italian singer Mina is fascinating - it is perhaps my personal favorite from Mina's complete, decades long discography and true blue-eyed soul with haunting, piercing melancholy - Viler covers it note for note but infuses it with her own spirit and puts her own stamp on it. Lovers of female pop vocals would love this package.