Images courtesy of Painted Air
The Naked Souls were a crucial, albeit largely inaccessible, element of the burgeoning Czech shoegaze scene in the early 1990s. Now, thanks to the renewed interest sparked by a 2023 Guardian retrospective, their entire elusive catalog is finally unearthed and gorgeously presented on Painted Air with the double vinyl compilation, ‘Reverb From The Depths.’
Formed by Jiří Novák and Milan Šíp, The Naked Souls defined a sound where Novák’s soaring, textural guitar parts wove a thick, hazy blanket around Šíp’s tender, melancholic voice. Their immediate distinction was evident enough that Swiss label Lost Records was created solely for the purpose of releasing their music.
The journey begins with their debut, the ‘Two And One’ EP (originally released in 1993 on Lost Records), featuring the band’s most celebrated track, “Sleep.” This song was significant enough to earn rotation on MTV and a spot on the iconic 120 Minutes program—a rare feat for an Eastern European band at the time. Tracks from this era capture the band in their purest form, full of atmospheric depth and hopeful introspection.
This initial success saw The Naked Souls playing shows across London, Switzerland, and their native Czech Republic, opening for indie royalty like Stereolab and Adorable. The momentum culminated in their 1995 full-length, ‘Shady Ways Anticlockwise’. While critically well-received upon release, the album marked their final statement before the departure of drummer Láďa Bakša led to their quiet dissolution.
‘Reverb From The Depths’ is more than just a historical document; it’s a necessary correction, making this key chapter of European shoegaze available again. This limited edition (only 300 copies) double LP collects every note from both ‘Two And One’ and ‘Shady Ways Anticlockwise.’ The sound is pristine, having been carefully mastered for vinyl by the renowned Josh Bonati. Presented on striking blue colored vinyl with evocative new artwork by Andy Jossi (The Churchhill Garden), the packaging proving every bit as beautiful as its contents.
The Painted Air compilation confirming that The Naked Souls were far more than a local footnote. Their music stands up alongside their more famous Western contemporaries through their dreamy, guitar-driven soundscapes, proving they were masters of the genre’s essential blend of noise and vulnerability. A truly essential archival release.
Have a listen or order here. Be sure to follow Painted Air on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
