★★★★☆
War Child Records’ charity compilation ‘Help (2)’ serves as a loud reminder that the world has not been fixed. This mighty project is made up of 23 songs from some of the best in the industry, and has been released at the most appropriate time. With wars raging around the world, the charity album seeks to raise money for children affected by conflict.
The original ‘Help’ album was released back in 1995 and raised £1.2 million for children. The release of its sequel over 30 years later serves as a depressing reminder of the state of the world. Musicians such as Arctic Monkeys, Fontaines D.C., Pulp, and Olivia Rodrigo all offer up their own tracks, yet there is a coherent togetherness across the entire album.
War Child UK has pulled together major global artists to raise money for the 1 in 5 children affected by conflict around the world. It’s a charity compilation album with purpose, meaning, and intention. Recorded over a week in November 2025, the album boasts a fusion of original songs and covers, honouring the adventurous spirit of the first.
The big names on the album certainly are the way in. Arctic Monkeys offer their first bit of new music since 2022 with the lead single ‘Opening Night’. It feels like the next step for the band as Alex Turner’s smooth vocals gloss over the even smoother instrumental.
Original songs from the likes of Black Country, New Road, Arlo Parks, Big Thief, and Sampha feel raw, emotive and not just written for the sake of it. Sampha’s ‘Naboo’ features soft synths that are gentle to listen to. It’s left uncertain if he is referencing the peaceful world in Star Wars, but each element of the track points towards harmonious living. Big Thief’s ‘Relive, Redie’ is an enchanting song as Adrienne Lenker’s magical vocals sing of the “Last chance to watch your life flicker back”. It’s spellbinding and enchanting.
The adventurous side of the album comes from its niche covers. Fontaines D.C. take on Sinead O’Connor’s ‘Black Boys on Mopeds’ from 1990. It features lead singer Grian Chatten’s second appearance on the record, after teaming up with Blur’s Damon Albarn on the punchy ‘Flags’. The cover of O’Connor is a deliberate nod back to the 90s. Lyrics such as “England’s not the mythical land of Madame George and the roses / it’s the home of police who kill black boys on mopeds” act as a stark reminder that war can look like many different things. As well as the conventional, there are the more covert, unconventional wars that are being battled back on homeland.
The covers keep coming, as Beabadoobee takes on a version of Elliott Smith’s ‘Say Yes’, whilst Arooj Aftab covers Jeff Buckley’s beautiful ‘Lilac Wine’. The grand finale of the record is Rodrigo’s cover of The Magnetic Fields’ ‘The Book of Love’. A soft, warm hug, it is a hopeful ending to an emotional album that is full of rage and sadness.
More overt protest comes from the collection of songs in the centre of the album. Geese frontman Cameron Winter contributes the eerie and unsettling track ‘Warning’. The soft spoken introduction “Good morning, this is your warning” feels like a direct address to each and every listener. As the haunting cello rushes through the song, it feels as though there is not enough time. The desired effect is uncomfortable, and it will make you pay attention.
Loud, fierce, and plugged in is ‘Don’t Fight the Young’ by Young Fathers. This original tune seems to embody the whole album’s sentiment. The young don’t choose the wars, and with the eternal innocence associated with youth, this track is the glue that holds the record together.
‘Help (2)’ succeeds like its former as a charity album. It has clearly been made with love, not hate, much like the best things in this world. Each of the 23 songs contribute to War Child’s efforts to protect, educate, and stand up for the rights of children living through conflict.
And if we never get to experience ‘Help (3)’ then that would be a great thing.
Lucy Bower
Image: Help (2) Official Album Cover