The star-studded War Child UK benefit compilation HELP(2) comes out next week. It's one of those rare all-star charity projects that truly transcends the "all-star charity project" format and just works as an awesome record. We've already posted the Arctic Monkeys' comeback song "Opening Night," as well as Pulp's "Begging For Change," the Damon Albarn/Grian Chatten/Kae Tempest collab "Flags," and a snippet of Cameron Winter's "Warning," and the album also has people like Olivia Rodrigo, Depeche Mode, Big Thief, and Wet Leg. Today, we get a track from a couple of the compilation's less-famous contributors.
UK jazz collective Ezra Collective won the Mercury Prize in 2023. London soul singer Greentea Peng released her sophomore album Tell Dem It's Sunny last year. They've teamed up for "Helicopters," a hazy and dubby reggae track that doubles as a mood-piece and a sad, understated protest. This is not an obvious choice for a single from HELP(2); plenty of other tracks would've been a lot splashier. It's good, though. Here's what Greentea Peng says about the song:
"Helicopters," you could say, is a reaction to the lack of action or misaction we have witnessed over the last three years (but in reality, throughout my whole life) in regard to the blatant slaughtering and exploitation of our brothers and sisters around the world. The manipulation, lies, and treachery that the powers that be rain down upon us with absolute impunity. Whilst we gather in the streets to demand our rights and the end to this evil perpetrated in our names, they hover above us in their flying machines, their helicopters, pre-empting chaos, as if we are the ones who need watching, as if we are the ones reaping havoc. From the streets, amidst my peers, gathered in their thousands, I found myself looking up and wondering... if only you were looking in the right direction. That is how these lyrics came to be. The rest is down to my talented brethren of the Ezra Collective. Give thanks.
Listen below.
The HELP(2) compilation is out 3/6 on War Child Records. Pre-order it here.
