About

PESS – Pure Energy Sound System was founded by three youngsters MRTy, Flux and Raster from Jablonec nad Nisou in 2001. Driven by the electronic music, underground techno events, DIY movement, and mainly after experiencing the spirit of the massive Czechtek freetekno party, the dedication was clear – we had to start a soundsystem. Soon we purchased our first pieces of equipment such as turntables, mixer, amplifier and pair of big speakers. After some practicing and throwing few private parties for our friends we decided to make the first public event. Not surprisingly, no one besides the crew showed up :D. Since then we started to organize events regularly and by 2019 we’ve played at, taken part in, or organized more than 230 events. In 2002 a new member Dejff joined the crew and we decided to build our first self-made speakers. Since then basically, we continued and never stopped building the our own speaker boxes. At first, knowing very little about the acoustics theory and cabinet design, the results were not very impressive. Still, by 2003 we managed to build quite big wall of speakers and kept traveling around Czech republic taking part in unleashed illegal freetekno parties. During this early period we had very little knowledge and funds, on the other hand we had almost unlimited time and energy. In 2003 a new member – DJ ANS joined the crew and was a great musical support as he had played and produced his own tunes already for long time in former Kr-Tekk soundsystem. We were traveling to fields and old deserted factories almost every weekend in Czech republic but also regularly abroad to Germany (Eastek) and Poland (Centertek), playing mostly tribe and hardtekno music. Very often we collaborated with other soundsystems building ridiculously big sound walls with 30+ kW RMS power. Collaborations resulted in very stable and successful unity PESS + Badtekk + Virtual Brain organizing many and many events together. Next incoming members to the group we Mara and Kholis. It was around year 2008 when the crew was the largest and most powerful. During the years another two members joined in – Ziky who managed a lot of events and recruited as graphic designer for most of the flyer/posters for a long time and PEpin who played liveset using legendary Yamaga RM1x groovebox alongside MRTy.live liveset project.

A crucial transition period for the soundsystem came around year 2012.  Most of us realized, that the original freetekno 23 mission of the movement has transformed into something which was not appealing to us any more. Parties has restricted itselfs into simple drug orgies with no deeper meaning and many negative aspects arose. It was time for a change which resulted into revolution in musical genres presented at our events. We switched for more spiritual and thoughtful music styles such as psychedelic trance, goa and techno (minimal/deep/progressive/acid). Slowing down the pace helped us to introduce more relaxing atmosphere at the parties and to filter off the unwanted negative vibrations. This was rather natural evolution then something we had to convince ourselves to do. Around the same period we took part in the historically first reggae parties – most usually providing technical support for different external projects (Sklizen – Messenjah, Dr. Kary, Cocoman, etc.). Roots reggae was there with us from the beginning, but we have never realized we can actually use our soundsystem to promote this music. As we progressed, it suddenly all fit together. The 4×18″ scoop-powered PA offered ultimate sonic experience unlocked by the heavy dub music. We felt obliged to give tribute and to contribute to the original idea and real foundation of the soundsystem movement which originated  in Jamaica. The circle has closed.

Later on we decided to organize the Pure Energy Free Music Festival, which is a summer free open-air weekender divided into two nights. Managed exclusively by our crew only with help of our friends it gave us opportunity to present our vision of non-commercial soundsystem festival. It means no security guards, no fences, no restrictions, no commercials, and free entry. Unique concept of friday’s night in dub style and saturday’s night in techno style allows to bring together and connect people from different subcultures – all united by the power of the soundsystem. This is the ultimate goal of the soundsystem  – to connect people and let them feel the vibrations in unison. We continue to organize both electronic music and reggae music events. To clearly indicate the musical style of the event we assigned the activities to either PESS (psytrance, techno) or Pure Energy Sound System (dub, steppas + sound/light rental). We constantly upgrade our audio and light equipment to bring the best possible sonic and visual experience (see About/Technical specs). Every year it gets more and more difficult to find suitable venues to organize our events in. Establishment and police is constantly attempting to stop us from our activities. This makes us even more dedicated in what we are doing and continue to fight down the babylon. Please, if you by any chance want to help us or support us, feel free to contact us. Any help is apreciated in these difficult times. Any hint to a decent venue without a noise limit is also welcome.

Under the name Pure Energy Sound System we promote and organize events in the legacy of the original foundation of the soundsystem culture in Jamaica. We are using our fully custom 4-way stack of speakers based on legendary scoop subbass bins to present uplifting vibrations of the roots reggae and dub music. We continue to spread the blessed teachings of H.I.M. Selassie I. JAH Rastasfari. We like to cooperate with other soundsystems from Czech republic and other parts of Europe and to join forces in so-called dub conferences, where two or more soundsystems take turns and play in one hall.

Influences: Blackboard jungle, King Shiloh, Lion’s den, Jah Shaka, Aba Shanti-I, ODGprod, Panda dub, Mahom, Tetra Hydro K, Alpha Steppa, O.B.F., Vibronics, …

We shared stage or cooperated with: Brain Damage, Alpha Steppa, Vibronics, Ras Tiny, Adam Prescot, Earl Gateshead, Wicked dub division, Jr. Dread, JAH Chalice soundsystem ft. Isayah, dubRise soundsystem, …

Our motto: Tribute & Contribute

We’re open to any collaborations and invitations. Go ahead and don’t hesitate to contact us. Together we can burn down the babylon!

If you want to explore more of our activities on this website (events, photos, music, videos, etc), just enter “Pure Energy Sound System” or “dub” in the main search filed on top of the page.

Under the name PESS we continue to organize and promote electronic music parties. Musically, we like to focus on slower hypnotic repetitive beats with maximum BPM of 150. We’re not restricted to one music genre, but rather like to exploit and combine different styles of underground electronic music. When you visit a PESS rave, most often you will have a chance to dance to progressive psytrance,  and different subgenres of techno (minimal, deep, progressive, acid) with emphasis to high sonic quality of the records. Sometimes we collaborate with conceptually similar soundsystems to build sound walls of insane dimensions and power. Together with massive lightshow, decorations and video mapping, we’re capable of entertaining up to 1000 ppl solely with our equipment.

You can listen to some of our sets and production in the Music section to get a better idea of what we serve to the partygoers :).

We’re open to any collaborations and invitations. Go ahead and don’t hesitate to contact us.

If you want to explore more of our activities on this website (events, photos, music, videos, etc), just enter “PESS” or “techno” in the main search filed on top of the page.

Our current audio 4-way stereo setup has been completely hand-build by us using the experience we’ve gained over the 18+ years of running a soundsystem and building our own speaker enclosures. For subs  we employ the legendary Fane 18″ scoop enclosures from the 1980s which have been heavily modified to efficiently accomnodate the currently most advanced type of woofer drivers. The frequency response of each enclosure was simulated using the HornResp SW, prototyped, and analyzed using EMC8000 and REW SW. After some optimizations, we came with the final design. At this time point we have achieved the sound setup we’re finally happy with – optimal frequency response, extreme SPL, medium throw, low distortion, and sufficient headroom. This is the key for our ultimate listening experience.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Boxes:

Subs: 4x 18″ scoop (rear-loaded horn) fitted with B&C speakers drivers – RMS 4x 1,700W, program 4x 3,400W, peak 4x 6,800W

Mid-bass: 4x 15″ front-loaded exponential horn fitted with D.A.S. drivers – RMS 4x 400W, program 4x 800W, peak 4x 1,600W

Mid-High: 4x 10″ front-loaded exponential horn fitted with JBL-Selenium drivers (top model) – RMS 4x 300W, program 4x 600W, peak 4x 1,200W

High: 4x 1″ 90×60 horn fitted with ultra-high compression JBL-Selenium drivers (top model) – RMS 4x 60W, cont. musical program 4x 160W, peak 4x 240W

Total speaker power: RMS 9,840W, cont. musical program 19,840W, peak 39,680W

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Amplifiers:

2x QSC PL380 – 16,000W

QSC PL236 – 3,600W

QSC PL230A – 3,000W

QSC CW404 – 800W

QSC RMX850 – 830W

Total amp power: 24,230W

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Processing:

Nova DC8000 DSP

DBX all-analog (EQ, compressor-limiter-gate, 2×4-way x-overs)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Other gear:

2x Vestax PDX-2000 MKI turntables

Ecler NUO 4 mixer

Mackie CFX12-mkII mixer

Mic: Shure SM58, Behringer EMC8000

Custom-built Monitors 12″+1″ (Selenium)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Light setup:

2x lightmaXX Platinum BAR TRI-LED Stripe 16x 3W TRI-LED

2x Botex SP-1500 strobocopes

8x LED moving head 12W Cree

2x LED PAR 8×12 W

2x Antari Z-1200 fog machine

PC with Light Jams SW + DMX 512 USB adaptor

6 m Truss TRIO 290

Nivtec deck 2×1 m

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Truck:

MAN L2000 8.153 – 7.5t, loading lift BÄR