Julian Laws
A Popular Music (Falmouth University) graduate currently based just outside of Bristol. A voracious reader, meticulous Letterboxd reviewer and lover of all things music. Consistently championing often ignored upcoming artists from Cornwall and the South West music scene to show what amazing talent can be found outside of the big cities!
The much anticipated collaborative album ‘Help (2)‘, for War Childs UK, sees three of the industries best tackle youth, reflection & resilience in this latest single, ‘Flags’.
With music greats such as Johnny Marr, Portishead’s Adrian Utley, Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso helping out, this single teases listeners into what they can expect from this new album of hope. An album which is much needed, in a time of so much turmoil and collective despondency.
The song opens with, and maintains, a simple piano motif that allows the lyrics and message to shine through. Chatten and Albarn‘s vocals are as if they were made for one another. Together they float through styles of Bowie and Nick Cave and then back to styles so indicative of their personal work (Blur and Fontaines DC). Their delivery allows the listener to harness the song’s impactful message. ‘“The flags are breezin’ with a different feeling” and “You feel the fear where you once felt pride” both illuminate the loss of innocence, but also the hope of that comes with change and growing up.
Kae Tempest‘s verses stand in league of their own. His opening lyric “….the world got involved and I woke up older. With the flag of surrender draped across my shoulder”, so differently delivered and introduced by such a change in the music. His verses infer the end of youth and the abrupt shift into adulthood. The verses speak of surrendering those dreams you once held so dear and being beaten by the challenges of adulthood.
I think all three artists are inspiring listeners with a collaboration for the ages, to show how banding together, making your flags seen and kept taut by solidarity, allows for more people to see them and to see what you stand for. The single recognises that all of our flags ripple and sometimes droop and seem slack, but strength in community and reflection keeps them flying high.
The cherry on top of this single is the 45 children choir that is introduced later in the song, that feels like such a moment of ecstasy and revelation, that as soon as the song is done, you want to go back to the start and play it all over again. This ‘Help(2)’ album really is going to be a top contender for my 2026’s album of the year.
The talent on it is ridiculous. Artists such as Black Country, New Road, Cameron Winter, King Krule, English Teacher, Olivia Rodrigo and the list goes on and all for such a good cause! Super exciting stuff!
Listen to ‘Flags‘ here: