War Child Announce Stacked “HELP(2)” Charity Album, the album Also Features Pulp, Olivia Rodrigo, Depeche Mode, Big Thief, Wet Leg, Young Fathers, Cameron Winter, Damon Albarn, Anna Calvi, Ellie Rowsell, Nilüfer Yanya, Fontaines D.C., Beth Gibbons, The Last Dinner Party, Beck, Bat For Lashes, and More
The British charity War Child UK have announced a massive charity album, “HELP(2)”, and shared its first single, a brand new song from Arctic Monkeys, “Opening Night.” “HELP(2)” has a stacked line-up also featuring new tracks by Pulp, Olivia Rodrigo, Depeche Mode, Big Thief, Wet Leg, Young Fathers, Cameron Winter, Damon Albarn, Anna Calvi, Ellie Rowsell, Nilüfer Yanya, Fontaines D.C., Beth Gibbons, The Last Dinner Party, Beck, Bat For Lashes, English Teacher, and more.
“HELP(2)” is the spiritual sequel to War Child’s 1995 album “HELP”, which is regarded as one of the greatest charity albums of all time and featured Radiohead, Portishead, Oasis, Blur, Massive Attack, Suede, Manic Street Preachers, Sinéad O’Connor, Paul McCartney, Paul Weller, and many other notable British artists of the era. Some of those artists return for “HELP(2)”, including Portishead’s Beth Gibbons and Adrian Utley and Blur’s Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon. There have been various other War Child charity albums since “HELP”, but this one feels closest in scale to the original album.
In demand producer James Ford produced the album, recording it mainly over the course of one week last November at Abbey Road Studios. The original “HELP” album was famously all recorded in one day at different studios across the globe and released only a week later.
Some of the collaborations run deeper than what’s represented on the tracklist. For example, Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten, and Kae Tempest’s song “Flags” also featured a super-group that included Johnny Marr, The Invisible’s Dave Okumu, and Portishead’s Adrian Utley all on guitar; Gorillaz’s Seye Adelekan on bass; Femi Koleoso from Ezra Collective on drums; as well as an all-star choir including Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker, Marr, Carl Barat, Declan McKenna, English Teacher, Black Country, New Road, Marika Hackman, Rosa Walton, and Nadia Kadek. Olivia Rodrigo’s closing cover of The Magnetic Fields’ “The Book of Love” features Graham Coxon on guitar. Coxon also collaborates with English Teacher on “Parasite.” And the new song “Sunday Light” features Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell, Anna Calvi, Nilüfer Yanya, and Dove Ellis.
War Child UK works to benefit children in war-torn areas and “HELP(2)” is accompanied by a film put together by Jonathan Glazer, for which children shot behind the scenes footage of the making of the album. It also includes footage shot in Ukraine, Gaza, Yemen, and Sudan.
Arctic Monkeys had this to say in a press release: “When James Ford called and asked if we’d contribute to the “HELP(2)” album we set to work on a song idea and assembled in Abbey Road to record it. We are proud to support the invaluable work War Child do and hope the record will make a positive difference to the lives of children affected by war.”
James Ford says: “I felt incredibly honoured when War Child asked me to work on “HELP(2)“. The original “HELP” meant a lot to me and to have the opportunity, given the current news cycle, to help galvanize our music community into doing something as unarguably positive as helping children in war zones seemed like a no brainer. The experience of making the album itself has been very powerful, and dare I say life affirming for me personally, against the backdrop of a very difficult year. I’m extremely proud of the results and of the efforts made by all involved. I can’t wait for people to hear this very special record. ”
Jonathan Glazer says: “It has been such a privilege to be part of bringing a team together to film this incredible collective effort.”
Rich Clarke, Head of Music at War Child UK, says: “HELP(2)” is more than an album. It’s a powerful example of what can happen when the music industry comes together around a shared purpose. It has united a diverse group of artists and creatives in support of War Child’s vital work with children affected by the devastating impacts of war. We are immensely grateful to all the artists and teams who have donated their voices, talent and time to support our mission to ensure that no child is caught up in conflict zones. We hope this record not only raises vital funds, but also awareness of the urgent need to turn compassion into action and do more to protect children living through war.”
It is due out March 6th via War Child Records.
“HELP(2)” Tracklist:
01. Arctic Monkeys – “Opening Night”
02. Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten & Kae Tempest – “Flags”
03. Black Country, New Road – “Strangers”
04. The Last Dinner Party – “Let’s do it again!”
05. Beth Gibbons – “Sunday Morning”
06. Arooj Aftab & Beck – “Lilac Wine”
07. King Krule – “The 343 Loop”
08. Depeche Mode – “Universal Soldier”
09. Ezra Collective & Greentea Peng – “Helicopters”
10. Arlo Parks – “Nothing I Could Hide”
11. English Teacher & Graham Coxon – “Parasite”
12. Beabadoobee – “Say Yes”
13. Big Thief – “Relive, Redie”
14. Fontaines D.C. – “Black Boys on Mopeds”
15. Cameron Winter – “Warning”
16. Young Fathers – “Don’t Fight the Young”
17. Pulp – “Begging for Change”
18. Sampha – “Naboo”
19. Wet Leg – “Obvious”
20. Foals – “When the War is Finally Done”
21. Bat For Lashes – “Carried my girl”
22. Anna Calvi, Ellie Rowsell, Nilüfer Yanya & Dove Ellis – “Sunday Light”
23. Olivia Rodrigo – “The Book of Love”
The Fat Angel Sings 