―୨୧⋆ ˚ One Album per Week for a whole year
-> Help(2) by War Child Records
War Child Records is an independent record label that began it's journey in 1993 thanks to filmmakers David Wilson, Bill Leeson, and social entrepreneur Willemijn Verloop. Upon traveling the former Yugoslawia, the three witnessed first hand how war affects the lives of innocent children. Raising awareness and money for those who need it most through musical collaborations. Since 1995 with 'HELP'—which included acts like Oasis, Blur, Radiohead and Paul McCartney—and 2005's 'HELP! A Day In The Life' War Child charity has expanded it's projects over multiple danger zone labeled countries. Increasing it's repertoire in collaborating with the gaming community and hosting small venue shows around the BRIT Awards every February since 2009, it has become the largest and most influential help organization for children in war zones.
Much like today, where war is still impacting many innocent lives and especially children can carry heavy damage from it, War Child Records releases a new collaborative album to raise money for the charity.
Help(2) includes a number of impressive acts, such as Fontaines D.C., Damon Albarn, Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp and many more.
Nailing the right path by releasing the album's first single 'Opening Night', a melancholic tune by Arctic Monkeys. A band whose fans have desperately waiting for a return after they announced that they were taking a break as a group back in 2022.
The opening track is nothing short of impressive and sincere, helping to guide the listener into the captivating collection of artists. Between covers, such as Sinéad O'Connor's 'Black Boys On Mopeds' (covered by Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C.) or Elliott Smith's 'Say Yes' (covered by British Indie-Rock artist Beabadobee), the album holds it's fair share of original tune's as well.
Cameron Winter's 'Warning' holds a haunting arrangement of violin in it's melody that leaves enough space for the singer/songwriter to critisize the current political landscape of his own country as well as the place the world and 'normal people' find themselves in.
The collaboration between Grian Chatten (Fontaines D.C.), Damon Albarn (Gorillaz, Blur) and Kae Tempest holds perhaps the most difference in sound between the individual artists on one track. Combining different genres of musical intention—indie rock, rap, spoken word and choir—the three different musicians bring some of their best work yet to the table. Accompanied by a 43-piece children's choir and multiple extraordinary musicians, the track is a "powerful reflection on youth and selfhood and stands as a bold statement of resilience" (via War Child Newsletter).
Tying it all together at the end with a cover of The Magnetic Fields' 'The Book Of Love' by Olivia Rodrigo, the listener finds themselves in an intimate reflection of the world and what is important in it. Love and loving each other equally. Guided through their thoughts by nothing but a guitar and Rodrigo's almost honey dripping voice, the album holds it's significance and stance loud and proudly.
Every single musician on this record shows how important an organization like War Child is and how important it is to use your platform to raise awareness for those who cannot make themselves be known without help by those who have power.
