War Child’s Various Artists – ‘Help(2)’ album review: A thrilling, unpredictable swirl of genius talent
In 1995, the inaugural The Help Album from War Child was recorded and mixed in just two days for immediate release – a move inspired by John Lennon’s ‘Instant Karma’, one of the fastest-released songs in history and a culmination of Lennon’s belief that “there really is a reaction to what you do now”. Help(2) was a little longer in the making, but its message captures the same sense of individual urgency.
The Skinny: It goes without saying that charity albums are the heart of all music, a place where the unification of the art form really thrives, and where collaboration between different voices who might not have had the chance to cross paths presents as a chance to transform familiar tropes into fresh and exciting new sounds.
Across Help(2), one thing becomes clear: that music is at its most powerful when major players join forces to create something truly unique. A record that already rises from the legacy of its predecessor, Help(2) is a genuinely thrilling and artistically unpredictable foray into the different creative instincts that occur when you place geniuses together with a shared common cause.
From the opener, Arctic Monkeys’ ‘Opening Night’, it’s clear that we’re being allowed in not only on a little slice of history but something that invites you to spring into action, taking a look at the small ways you could be doing your own bit to improve the world around you. This weight establishes itself early as frontman Alex Turner croons about tonight being “heavy on one side”, like a “set of cherry red and white loaded dice”.
Boasting other stalwarts of music like Pulp, Damon Albarn, Fontaines DC, Wet Leg, The Last Dinner Party, English Teacher, Big Thief, and more, the record thrives on its own contradictions and cross-generational convergence, making the more commanding moments hit harder, and the slower, more emotional strokes feel especially poignant.
Recorded over one week at London’s Abbey Road Studios with producer James Ford at the helm, Help(2) presents each featured artist at their best, from the sweet, sentimental musings of Wet Leg’s ‘Obvious’ to the abrasive, punkish charge of Pulp’s ‘Begging For Change‘.
Other highlights include Fontaines DC’s haunting cover of Sinéad O’Connor’s ‘Black Boys on Mopeds’, Depeche Mode’s enchanting reimagination of The Highwaymen’s folk classic ‘Universal Soldier’, and Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten, and Kae Tempest’s anguish-filled ‘Flags’. Such a roster of names and poignant titles typifies the spearheading intent of an album that feels vital, and, importantly, carries that through to its sound.
During the album’s creation, War Child also invited children into the studio, who were given free access to the area as well as cameras to use however they pleased. This atmosphere undeniably contributes to the overall sound, giving the record its spirited community feel that somehow makes its 23-track run fly by.
The Verdict: With a multitude of twists and turns and emotionally resonant moments that reach in deep into the soul, Help(2) is a startling display of the best talent in the business, with songs that genuinely inspire the listener to take action, even if only in small, individual ways.
Standout track: Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten and Kae Tempest – ‘Flags’
Release Date: March 6th, 2026 | Producer: James Ford | Label: War Child
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out New Music Newsletter
All the latest New Music from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.