Various: War Child: Hope — for the children of Iraq

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald Rating: * * * *)

Yes, it's for a good cause so there may be a slight star donation up the top there. But it's intriguing to see what those various artists on this British-based charity album think is appropriate. George Michael offers a tortured take on Don McLean's battlefield ode The Grave, Avril Lavinge covers Knockin' on Heaven's Door as if the lyrics were a homework project, Paul McCartney redoes a track (Calico Skies) off his last album, David Bowie remixes one from his (Everyone Says Hi), Ronan Keating does an Elvis impression (In The Ghetto, recorded live), and New Order cover Jimmy Cliff's Vietnam but just sound like they got the wrong war.

There's some stuff that impresses, like Travis' opening, The Beautiful Occupation, as well as the singer-songwriter squad down the end of Tom McCrae, Beth Orton, Billy Bragg and Yusuf Islam — the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens — redoing Peace Train backed by a South African choir.

Label: Warner