The Weekly Album #13: Larten Turtlefin ‘Anthems for Doomed Love’

My partner and I like to stream one full album a week, to keep our musical brains surprised. [Apr 10, 2023]

After a short break, my pick was ‘Anthems for Doomed Love’ by Larten Turtlefin. Full disclosure; I know the splendid Turtlefin themself, and had some (practically infinitesimal) feedback for the record in the production stage, but otherwise I reserve my right to talk about whatever I want on this little series. And I, frankly, miss this kind of thing; having slowly divorced from absolute grassroots-level music as I’ve gotten older and lost many avenues of access (read: I live in a dump with no live music) to me there’s a delight to once again hearing creativity made no matter the resources available. ‘Anthems…’ is roughly produced — of course it is, it’s a one-person show — but has the songs to make up for it in spades. It jumps wildly between genres — jangle pop and doom metal and electronica and more besides — and demonstrates a playful and capable verve with all of them, with real songwriting chops put to use. For a melancholy work from (trust me) the world’s biggest Ville Valo fanperson, it’s not so much emotionally raw as emotionally open; tender, sweet, and full of joy.

BEST: ‘Beneath Marble Arch’, ‘Free Me’, ‘Painting Shadows on the Floor’

WORST: ‘Devil Isn’t Jealous’

Up next is ‘The Cold Sun’ by Loathe…