Arctic Monkeys are back with their first new music since 2022’s The Car. ‘Opening Night’ will appear on HELP(2), an upcoming benefit album for the UK-based children’s charity War Child, alongside contributions by Big Thief, Pulp, Cameron Winter, Olivia Rodrigo, Arooj Aftab and Beck, Sampha, King Krule, Depeche Mode, and Black Country, New Road. (What a lineup!) Listen to the buzzing, slinky ‘Opening Night’ below.
The Zone of Interest director Jonathan Glazer served as the creative director for HELP(2), which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with James Ford. It’s set for release on March 6. Other contributors include Anna Calvi, Arlo Parks, Bat for Lashes, beabadoobee, Beth Gibbons, Dove Ellis, Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell, English Teacher, Ezra Collective, Foals, Fontaines D.C., Graham Coxon, Greentea Peng, Kae Tempest, King Krule, Nilüfer Yanya, Sampha, the Last Dinner Party, Wet Leg, and Young Fathers.
“When James Ford called and asked if we’d contribute to the HELP(2) album we set to work on a song idea and assembled in Abbey Road to record it,” Arctic Monkeys stated in a press release. “We are proud to support the invaluable work War Child do and hope the record will make a positive difference to the lives of children affected by war.”
The project is inspired by the 1995 charity compilation HELP, which raised money for War Child’s humanitarian aid in Bosnia and featured Radiohead, Oasis, Massive Attack, and Sinead O’Connor.
“I felt incredibly honored when War Child asked me to work on HELP(2),” Ford said.”The original HELP meant a lot to me and to have the opportunity, given the current news cycle, to help galvanize our music community into doing something as unarguably positive as helping children in war zones seemed like a no brainer. The experience of making the album itself has been very powerful, and dare I say life affirming for me personally, against the backdrop of a very difficult year. I’m extremely proud of the results and of the efforts made by all involved. I can’t wait for people to hear this very special record.”
HELP(2) Cover Artwork:
HELP(2) Tracklist:
1. Arctic Monkeys – Opening Night
2. Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten & Kae Tempest – Flags
3. Black Country, New Road – Strangers
4. The Last Dinner Party – Let’s do it again!
5. Beth Gibbons – Sunday Morning
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
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
19. Wet Leg – Obvious
20. Foals – When the War is Finally Done
21. Bat For Lashes – Carried my girl
22. Anna Calvi, Ellie Rowsell, Nilüfer Yanya & Dove Ellis – Sunday Light
23. Olivia Rodrigo – The Book of Love
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