After changing the clocks on the previous weekend, the 31st of March saw a another leap in time in the context of electronic music. The Time Warp Mannheim had already received plenty of attention in advance for its exquisite line-up and promising design concepts. Last Saturday, the time had come. In addition to the international DJ elite, over 15,000 visitors from all over the world flooded the sold-out Maimarktgelände.

The theory of the "Global Village" is rarely as tangible as it is during the Time Warp weekend. More than 15,000 young people made their way to Mannheim on Saturday. Many made long journeys from neighboring European countries, and some even bridged continents – with about a dozen Time Warp fans traveling from Japan.

The fact that it would be worth the trip was already clear with a glimpse at this year's line-up. In addition to established stars of the techno scene such as Sven Väth, Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox and Laurent Garnier, there were also many newcomers and high-flyers on the program in 2012. Newly crowned as the "Best DJ of 2011", Jamie Jones made his Time Warp debut, as did the Berlin duo Pan-Pot or the live act Aka Aka feat. Thalstroem. Further heavyweights of the scene such as techno pioneer Kevin Saunderson or the British DJ legend John Digweed also caused a stir.

But experienced Time Warp guests know: The attraction of the event lies not only in the high-quality line-up. Stunning light and video shows, impressive stage design and spectacular performances have always been an integral part of any Time Warp. The organizers were particularly innovative in 2012: The main floor presented a room-spanning installation and computer-controlled LEDs in the futuristic look of a light cave. On Floor 1, the 3D mapping concept from last year was continued and extended with a specially made cube wall. For weeks, experts like the Portuguese VJ team Dubvideo Connection or the Hungarian video experts Ivo3D and Bordos worked on the calculation and animation of digital content.

The Maimarkthalle offered a unique audiovisual experience. "One of the most intense parties in the world" could be read on the Time Warp flyers – an assessment that was shared wholeheartedly by guests. Frantic applause thundered through the main floor as Cocoon boss Sven Väth began his set. It was no less euphoric on the other six floors. The grand finale was the performance by the Canadian Richie Hawtin, who traditionally ended the Time Warp with a six-hour marathon set

But not only the visitors were happy. The organizers consistently expressed their satisfaction. "Enthusiastic visitors, great artists – we are very glad that we were able to realize all our ideas and visions without any problems again this year, so that guests could have a unique experience in sound, lighting and video. We especially see it as a confirmation of our work that, despite the difficult financial situation in some countries, so many people from all over Europe have made their way here. The world comes to Mannheim – that's no exaggeration on the Time Warp weekend," said Marketing Director Robin Ebinger. Promoter Michael Hock also had a positive summary:  "The event ran flawlessly from an organizational point of view. At this point I would especially like to thank the City of Mannheim and the local authorities such as the police, ambulance services, fire brigade and the MaHab for their excellent cooperation."

Along with the Time Warp, the week-long Jetztmusikfestival also now comes to an end. The cosmopop team will continue to offer the opportunity to make technical and musical visions a reality in the future. The 29th of September has been announced as the date for the next Time Warp Italy, and the Time Warp Holland is already pencilled in for December.

LINKS:

• http://www.time-warp.de

• https://twitter.com/#!/Time_Warp

Via:House Planet Dj