War Child Records announce HELP(2) album

Inspired by the landmark 1995 release HELP, War Child Records have announced HELP(2), featuring another eye-catching line-up of contributors including Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, Damon Albarn with Johnny Marr, Pulp, Beth Gibbons, English Teacher with Graham Coxon, Olivia Rodrigo and many more. 

HELP(2) carries forward the spirit of the original HELP album and was brought to life through a close collaboration with Abbey Road Studios, recorded predominantly across one week last November under the stewardship of acclaimed producer James Ford.

Arctic Monkeys’ contribution, Opening Night, is the first single to surface and is the band’s first new music since their 2022 album The Car. Reacting in a statement, the band said: “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.”

Listen below:

Honoured To HELP

Ford, who has produced or co-produced all of the Arctic Monkeys’ albums since 2007’s Favourite Worst Nightmare, added. “I felt incredibly honoured when War Child asked me to work on HELP(2),” said Ford. “The original HELP meant a lot to me and to have the opportunity, given the current news cycle, to help galvanise 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.”

Recorded in a single day in 1995 and led by Brian Eno, the original HELP album brought together A-list names to raise £1.2m for children affected by conflict, including Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, Massive Attack, Portishead, Sinéad O’Connor and the Smokin’ Mojo Filters, the supergroup of Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller.

The spirit of the original compilation was reflected in the collaborative nature of HELP(2)’s recording process, with numerous impromptu moments unfolding in the studio. Damon Albarn’s session on the track Flags saw him joined by Johnny Marr on guitar with Kae Tempest and Grian Chatten of Fontaines D.C. on vocals, while Olivia Rodrigo was connected with Graham Coxon, resulting in the guitarist performing on her cover of The Book Of Love.

Other notable contributions include Depeche Mode on Universal Soldier, Portishead’s Beth Gibbons on Sunday Morning, English Teacher + Graham Coxon’s Parasite and Pulp’s Begging For Change.

HELP(2) Tracklist

Arctic Monkeys – Opening Night
Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten & Kae Tempest – Flags
Black Country, New Road – Strangers
The Last Dinner Party – Let’s do it again!
Beth Gibbons – Sunday Morning
Arooj Aftab & Beck – Lilac Wine
King Krule – The 343 Loop
Depeche Mode – Universal Soldier
Ezra Collective & Greentea Peng – Helicopters
Arlo Parks – Nothing I Could Hide
English Teacher & Graham Coxon – Parasite
Beabadoobee – Say Yes
Big Thief – Relive, Redie
Fontaines D.C. – Black Boys on Mopeds
Cameron Winter – Warning
Young Fathers – Don’t Fight the Young
Pulp – Begging for Change
Sampha – Naboo
Wet Leg – Obvious
Foals – When the War is Finally Done
Bat For Lashes – Carried my girl
Anna Calvi, Ellie Rowsell, Nilüfer Yanya & Dove Ellis – Sunday Light
Olivia Rodrigo – The Book of Love

HELP(2) will be released on Friday 6 March via War Child Records. You can pre-order the album here

For more on War Child click here

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