On March 6, charity organization War Child International released “HELP(2),” a 23-track compilation album featuring major artists, to support children in war-stricken areas in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen. As a continuation of “The Help Album” by Brian Eno in 1995, “HELP(2)” proves itself to be worthy of its predecessor by using their funds to spread awareness, provide aid, education and mental health support for those who are stripped from those opportunities. The artists use the album to call out not only the effects of war, but also other real-world issues such as technology overuse, police violence and the harsh effects society has on love with slow, dramatic instrumentals.
James Ford, the primary producer for the Arctic Monkeys, produces the entire album with his signature indie rock style. The first song, “Opening Night” by the Arctic Monkeys, sets the tone for the majority of the album with its simple layering of acoustic guitar and synths, pulling the audience in with a melodramatic yet powerful chorus. Other songs like Black Country’s “Strangers” follow the same format where the contrast between the chorus’s heavy backing track and the light acoustics in the beginning feels theatrical, making it both equally catchy and impactful.
Other songs in the album like Sinéad O’Connor’s “Black Boys on Mopeds,” covered by Fontaines D.C., follow the trend of incredibly powerful lyricism. The song informs others of police brutality and racism by stating “England’s not the mythical land of Madame George and roses,” intentionally giving positive examples that are associated with England in order to contrast with it being “the home of police who kill black boys on mopeds.” This is a tribute to the 1989 death of Nicolas Bramble, a Black man who was chased down under the suspicion of stealing a moped and died when he crashed trying to get away. The lyricism combined with the increased overdrive of the guitar makes this a compelling listen that might be too sorrowful for some. The addition of this cover in “HELP(2)” is perfectly cohesive, as its empty-sounding acoustic guitar is gradually layered with more driving instrumentals that match the tone of the rest of the album.
There are a few songs that stick out with its faster tempo and more upbeat rhythm. “Let’s Do It Again” by The Last Dinner Party uniquely switches to an even faster tempo toward the end of the song, a pleasant stylistic choice for the listener. The switches in tone are beneficial in keeping the listener engaged, as a lot of the other songs like “Say Yes” by beabadoobee follow a more soft and minimalist approach without any bright moments. Even as a compilation album, the songs still manage to blend with the 70s style rock genre that the album is going for with its strong electric guitar and bass.
The most powerful songs are “When the War is Finally Done” by Foals, “Warning” by Cameron Winter and “Universal Soldier”covered by Depeche Mode as they are blatant callouts to the horrors of war without any sugarcoating of the situations around us.
“Universal Soldier” was originally created by Buffy SainteMarie as her reaction to injured American troops returning from the Vietnam War. The song is incredibly dark and foreboding with the same motif repeating over and over, similar to how “Warning” builds tension with the same motif increasing in volume, making it a slightly harsh listen. The lyric from “Universal Soldier,” “he’s the one who gives his body as a weapon of the war” is intense, and the rest of the songs reflecting war don’t shy away from the matter.
The overall theme of “HELP(2)” is both extremely moving and influential in its cause for war aid, and also a culmination of passion from different artists. With lyrics recounting tragically real events, to hard-hitting instrumentals, the artists “HELP(2)” play with a unique indie rock style to spread awareness of issues they care about. Although the style of a brooding and intense world commentary might turn some people away, the care and dedication is evident within every song of the album.
Rating: 4 Viking helmets out of 5
