Help(2)
| Help(2) | ||||
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| Compilation album by various artists | ||||
| Released | 6 March 2026 | |||
| Recorded | November 2025 | |||
| Studio | Abbey Road Studios | |||
| Label | War Child Records | |||
| Producer | James Ford | |||
| War Child charity albums chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Help(2) | ||||
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Help(2) (stylised in all caps) is a charity album created by the organisation War Child in order to raise funds for their work involving helping children living through war. It is scheduled to be released on 6 March 2026 through War Child Records. The album was produced by James Ford and was recorded in Abbey Road Studios in November 2025. The album features a variety of artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Black Country, New Road, Cameron Winter and Pulp among others.
Background and production
[edit]War Child is a charity which "[works] to protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children living through conflict".[1] In previous years, War Child has released compilation albums bringing artists together to raise funds for the charity and to spread awareness.[2] Most notable was The Help Album produced by Brian Eno, which was recorded in a single day in September 1995 and featured contributions from artists such as Radiohead, Blur and Oasis.[3][4][5] The album would go on to sell 70,000 copies in its first week and raise £1,200,000 for the charity.[5][6]
In 2025, War Child reached out to James Ford and asked him to work on Help(2), to which he felt "incredibly honoured".[7] The album was recorded over a period of one week in Abbey Road Studios.[8][9] During recording of the album, artists often collaborated with each other; examples include a choir consisting of members from English Teacher, Pulp and Black Country, New Road among others on "Flags", Cameron Winter and cellist Amy Langley performing together on "Warning" and Olivia Rodrigo working with Blur guitarist Graham Coxon for "The Book of Love",[10] a cover of the song by the Magnetic Fields.[6]
Release
[edit]War Child teased the album earlier in January 2026 with an Instagram post reading "There is a group of artists who are working on something in support of War Child. There will be more information coming soon."[11] On 20 January, War Child confirmed the release of a brand new song by Arctic Monkeys, accompanied by a short slow-motion video of a child running into the sea.[12] The song, titled "Opening Night", was released on 22 January,[13] alongside the announcement of the compilation, scheduled to be released on 6 March 2026.[14] "Opening Night" is a ballad about "political sloganeering" and "supercomputer crusades"; it had been worked on a couple of years before its release, but was unfinished.[6]
The album will include a companion film by Jonathan Glazer; Glazer gave cameras to children throughout the studio while the album was being recorded, allowing them to record artists without any restrictions.[15][16] Footage recorded by children in Ukraine, Gaza, Yemen and Sudan was also obtained by Glazer's team and used in the film.[17]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Opening Night" | Arctic Monkeys | 4:19 |
| 2. | "Flags" | Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten, Kae Tempest | |
| 3. | "Strangers" | Black Country, New Road | |
| 4. | "Let's Do It Again!" | The Last Dinner Party | |
| 5. | "Sunday Morning" | Beth Gibbons | |
| 6. | "Lilac Wine" | Arooj Aftab, Beck | |
| 7. | "The 343 Loop" | King Krule | |
| 8. | "Universal Soldier" | Depeche Mode | |
| 9. | "Helicopters" | Ezra Collective, Greentea Peng | |
| 10. | "Nothing I Could Hide" | Arlo Parks | |
| 11. | "Parasite" | English Teacher, Graham Coxon | |
| 12. | "Say Yes" | Beabadoobee | |
| 13. | "Relive, Redie" | Big Thief | |
| 14. | "Black Boys on Mopeds" | Fontaines D.C. | |
| 15. | "Warning" | Cameron Winter | |
| 16. | "Don't Fight the Young" | Young Fathers | |
| 17. | "Begging for Change" | Pulp | |
| 18. | "Naboo" | Sampha | |
| 19. | "Obvious" | Wet Leg | |
| 20. | "When the War Is Finally Done" | Foals | |
| 21. | "Carried My Girl" | Bat for Lashes | |
| 22. | "Sunday Light" | Anna Calvi, Nilüfer Yanya, Dove Ellis featuring Ellie Rowsell | |
| 23. | "The Book of Love" | Olivia Rodrigo |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "What we stand for - Who we are - War Child". War Child. Archived from the original on 8 November 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Krol, Charlotte (8 April 2022). "War Child re-release classic albums to fundraise for Ukraine and more". Rolling Stone UK. Archived from the original on 11 September 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode Lead War Child Charity LP". Spin. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Singh, Surej (9 September 2025). "War Child announce 30th anniversary reissue of iconic 'Help' charity album". NME. Archived from the original on 31 October 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ a b Smith, Thomas (22 January 2026). "Arctic Monkeys, Olivia Rodrigo & More to Appear on War Child's Star-Studded Charity Compilation 'HELP(2)'". Billboard. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ a b c Savage, Mark (23 January 2026). "Help 2: Behind the scenes as Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp and Arctic Monkeys record charity album". BBC News. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Eede, Christian (22 January 2026). "Pulp, Depeche Mode, Beth Gibbons and More Feature on New War Child Charity Record". The Quietus. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Slater, Rosie (22 January 2026). "Arctic Monkeys reveal first new single since 2022 for War Child". The Independent. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Newton, Felicity (22 January 2026). "Arctic Monkeys have contributed a track to War Child Records' 'HELP(2)' album, also featuring Wet Leg, Arlo Parks, Foals and more". Dork. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Chelosky, Danielle (22 January 2026). "Arctic Monkeys, Olivia Rodrigo, Cameron Winter, Pulp, & More Contribute New Songs To War Child's 'HELP(2)'". Stereogum. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Sandiford, Kayla (22 January 2026). "Depeche Mode, Fontaines D.C., Cameron Winter, and more to feature on new Warchild charity album". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Dunworth, Liberty (20 January 2026). "A new Arctic Monkeys song is coming this week in aid of War Child". NME. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Carter, Daisy (22 January 2026). "War Child Records announce collab charity album 'HELP(2)' with new Arctic Monkeys single 'Opening Night'". DIY. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Trendell, Andrew (22 January 2026). "Arctic Monkeys share new song 'Opening Night' from indie all-star 'Help(2)' War Child album". NME. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Ragusa, Paolo (22 January 2026). "Arctic Monkeys Unveil New Song "Opening Night"". Consequence. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (22 January 2026). "Arctic Monkeys release first new song since 2022 to benefit War Child". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Reilly, Nick (22 January 2026). "Arctic Monkeys share new single 'Opening Night' as War Child unveils 'HELP(2)' album". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 23 January 2026.