Gently the title track This Time Flowers Grow sparkles out of the speakers. One might automatically settle back, closing the eyes and enjoy voice and singing of Martin Groß: a bit undercooled, melancholy-draped, and sometimes almost androgynous this voice knows how to captivate. Classic wave guitars dominate the sound, while the bass line sets groovy undertones and the instrumentation generally can be called minimalist. Pure sound aesthetics! Although having this special kind of purist and monotonous sound matrix MIDAS FACTORY though manage to create an almost perfect amount of variety that appeal totally unobtrusive and subtle. Singer Martin mainly set accents with his voice when he well-dosed allows himself emotional bursts as in Down In The Valley Eyes Kill Reality with some aggressions or sort of serenity as in Song For A Filial Mind and The Headless Frozen Mind. At other points the guitars are allowed to rock out a little bit more and create dynamics with retiringly used Industrial-driven samples. As for me The Brave is the masterpiece on This Time Flowers Grow as it unites all aspects of what MIDAS FACTORY seem to be about.
Without a doubt MIDAS FACTORY have their roots in the Dark Wave era of the 80’s, whereas they wonderfully manage to take over the original sound to 2006, modernizing it without adulterating the beautiful approach. Same goes for the musical references where one can hear out clear leanings but just embedded as a homage in an own distinct style and identity. Lover of this genre will be pleased by This Time Flowers Grow and really appreciate this album!
This self-financed sophomore record can be ordered via the band’s own digital home for 8 Euro plus p&p. All I can do is to warmly recommend this album!