The ghosts of 1995 are howling through the corridors of Abbey Road Studios once more, but the air in 2026 is thicker, heavier, and far more desperate. Thirty-one years ago, the original “HELP” album was a frantic, 24-hour dash – a snapshot of Britpop’s peak used as a tourniquet for the Bosnian conflict. Today, with nearly 520 million children trapped in war zones – a figure that has doubled since the mid-nineties – the industry has stopped playing games. “HELP(2)” is a massive, four-sided musical manifesto, and it is the most vital piece of plastic you will buy this decade.
Under the stewardship of James Ford, the man who has spent the last few years refining the sound of modern greatness, a week in November 2025 became a flashpoint of collective action. This is a raw, jagged, and urgent response to a world that feels like it’s spinning off its axis.
Arctic Monkeys: A Raw Return To Form
The first taste of this project comes from the Sheffield titans themselves. Arctic Monkeys have emerged from the shadows with “Opening Night”, their first new material since 2022. The visualiser for the track is as striking as the song is sparse; it features the haunting image of a young boy running into the sea – a visual that also serves as the poignant cover art for the entire album. It is a stark, cinematic reminder of the vulnerability at the heart of this campaign. As the lead single, it sets a tone of restrained urgency, eschewing arena-sized hooks for a hushed, narrative tension that demands your full attention before the rest of the 23-track odyssey unfolds.
Depeche Mode: The Dark Heart Of The Resistance
For those of us who have lived and breathed the work of Depeche Mode since the eighties, their presence on this record is a seismic event. Dave Gahan and Martin Gore have contributed a cover of “Universal Soldier”, the 1964 anti-war anthem originally written by Buffy Sainte-Marie.
It is a choice that cuts right to the bone of the War Child mission. By taking a song that has stood as a definitive anti-war manifesto for over sixty years, Depeche Mode bridges the gap between the protest traditions of the past and the industrial, cinematic landscape of 2026. Their inclusion brings a necessary weight to the project, grounding the high-energy collaborations of the younger guard with the authority of a band that has spent decades exploring the human condition.
A Cinematic Vision: By Children, For Children
The aesthetic of “HELP(2)” is as uncompromising as the music. Academy Award winner Jonathan Glazer – the visionary who haunted our dreams with “The Zone Of Interest” – stepped in as Creative Director. His concept, developed with Mica Levi, was dangerously simple: “By Children, For Children“.
Glazer’s team handed cameras to the children themselves. In the studios, kids operated small rigs, filming the likes of Alex Turner and Damon Albarn without filters or industry polish. But the project goes deeper. Glazer worked with fixers in Ukraine, Gaza, Yemen, and Sudan to gather footage from children living in the eye of the storm. This isn’t “charity porn”; it is a direct, unblinking connection between the artists in London and the kids in the crossfire.
The record opens with “Opening Night“, the first new music from Arctic Monkeys in four long years. It’s reflective, sharp, and serves as the perfect entry point into a tracklist that reads like a dream festival lineup. Damon Albarn has assembled a supergroup of sorts, featuring the legendary Johnny Marr on guitar alongside the biting tongues of Kae Tempest and Grian Chatten.
Then there is the unexpected alchemy of Olivia Rodrigo teaming up with Graham Coxon for a cover of “The Book Of Love”, proving that the spirit of collaboration that defined the original 1995 session – where Pulp and Oasis shared the same oxygen – is alive and well.
The mission is clear. War Child UK isn’t just about immediate aid; they are about the long haul – mental health support, education, and protection in 14 countries. When Pulp won the Mercury Prize for “Different Class” in 1996, they handed the prize money straight to War Child. That is the level of commitment we are talking about.
“HELP(2)” is a reminder that in a world of algorithmic noise, music can still be a physical, tangible force for good. This isn’t just another digital file to be added to a playlist; it is a record that demands to be heard, felt, and owned. Buy this record. Every euros 9igoes directly to War Child UK, providing a lifeline of education and protection for children who have lost everything to conflict. This is your chance to turn your passion for music into a genuine act of humanity.
Official Links
Official War Child Store (Pre-orders & Merch): https://store.warchild.org.uk
War Child UK (Mission & Impact): https://www.warchild.org.uk
Official Album Trailer (Jonathan Glazer): https://www.youtube.com/user/WarChildUK
Note: Since the album was announced on 22nd January, the dedicated sign-up page is the best way to get alerts for the limited edition vinyl drops, which are expected to shift fast.Track list:
Side A
1. Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night
2. Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten & Kae Tempest - Flags
3. Black Country, New Road - Strangers
4. The Last Dinner Party - Dead Flowers
5. Beth Gibbons - Sunday Morning
Side B
6. Arooj Aftab & Beck - Lilac Wine
7. King Krule - The 343 Loop
8. Depeche Mode - Universal Soldier
9. Ezra Collective & Greentea Peng - Helicopters
10. Arlo Parks - Nothing I Could Hide
11. English Teacher & Graham Coxon - Parasite
12. Beabadoobee - Say Yes
Side C
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
Side D
19. Wet Leg - Obvious
20. Foals - When The War Is Finally Done
21. Bat For Lashes - Carried My Girl
22. Anna Calvi, Dove Ellis, Ellie Rowsell & Nilüfer Yanya - Sunday Light
23. Olivia Rodrigo - The Book of Love If you like our article, our pictures, and our website, do not hesitate to follow us on Facebook and Instagram! We will really appreciate it!
