HELP(2)

We spoke to Rich Clarke, head of War Child Records about the follow up to the 1995 charity album

Story by Ben Avery

01/04/2026

HELP(2) is a compilation album released to raise money for the children in conflict zones around the world suffering in many ways from the effects of war. The album was instigated by the charity War Child.

Recorded in late 2025 at Abbey Road studios over the space of 1 week. Involving more than 30 artists, a host of other musicians, engineers, mixers, and contributors. The whole thing was overseen by acclaimed English producer James Ford. HELP(2) is inspired by an original Help album produced just over 30 years ago in 1995. Some of the artists featured including Damien Albarn, Beth Gibbons, Graham Coxon and Oasis also featured under various guises on the original. There are new songs, covers and new versions of the artists songs. Rich Clarke, head of War Child records stressed that “keeping the creative bar high” was one of the biggest challenges and priorities. Listening to some of the really beautiful songs including Beth Gibbons cover of The Velvet Underground’s Sunday morning you can really hear that the challenge was accepted by all. The collaborations too are outstanding. The voices of some of the best current and classic combine in a way that Heston Blumenthal combines food. You don't know why it works but it really does. Flags is an example of this, Damien Albarn, Grian Chatten (Fontaines DC), and Kae Tempest. All of them have unique qualities, but dropped in individually in the same song, the contrast is amazing. Heavy weights Depeche Mode contributed a smoldering dark wave electro cover of Universal Soldier. This version sees producer of Depeche Mode's Memento Mori, James Ford, reunited with the band. I asked Rich about the success of the album so far in terms of sales: “We’re delighted with the sales so far. To top the compilations chart and finish equivalent to 2nd to Harry Styles is something to be really proud of. More importantly, it’s a lot of money raised that will directly support our work with children affected by conflict around the world. We see this as a long-term project that will continue to have an impact for a long, long time, which is vital. There are more children affected by conflict now than at any time since the second world war so the need for War Child’s life saving work couldn’t be more vital.”

I was curious to see whether it was people nostalgic for the original or whether it was a new audience listening to the album. “We’ve only really got oversight on streaming but it’s younger than you’d think. The biggest group by far is 25-34 year olds who wouldn’t have been born or were too young to experience the original HELP album. So it’s a new audience for War Child to speak to about our work. There might even be a world where a lot of those listeners discover the 95 record because of HELP(2).” The media landscape is totally different from 1995, with only 5 TV channels and no internet. How difficult was it getting attention for a charity record now compared to then? “Social media and the virality of moments means you can reach a lot of people really quickly but the flip side is that it’s a moment and that passes quickly too. I was 15 when the original came out. I remember buying it in HMV in Kingston and in those days we’d take CDs round to friend's houses, talk about music at school and read about it in NME and see it in record shops. Things stuck around a little longer, discovery was more organic and you had to work to find the music you loved! Now it’s more fleeting but it is global in an instant.” Talking about the actual recording Rich said: “English Teacher managed to get to Abbey Road in the morning, record Parasite with David Wrench and still get to the Roundhouse for soundcheck! We were very fortunate that the artist community really embraced the project and signed up to be part of it. That’s all down to James Ford’s creative vision and involvement alongside Toby L, Luke Williams and the A&R team.” “I adore Beth Gibbon’s Sunday Morning, it can leave me in bits and it’s a beautiful cover. My favourite is impossible to pick as so many of those songs mean a lot to me. We’re in peak Geese fever with the UK tour so I should shout out Warning by Cameron Winter. I just love his writing and the intensity of it. A gorgeous cover and tribute to Sinead O’Connor from Fontaines and Young Father’s excellent ‘Don’t Fight the Young’” Finally I asked Rich if there was anything else in the pipeline for War Child Records: “There’s some more to come from HELP(2), visual content and a documentary. The really exciting thing is that we’ve seen the impact of the music industry when it comes together as a collective. That power to be a force for good is so inspiring and through HELP(2) we have an incredible platform to build on.”