Keane: 'The Night Sky'

The charity single. Every music journalist's worst nightmare. What's a self-respecting writer to do when Sir Cliff, Elton, or Girls Aloud knock out some trite fundraiser that's as ghastly as an evening spent squashed under Louis Walsh's rear end. The poisoned pen would normally be unleashed, but when there's a couple of million kids starving in Africa waiting for some cash from its sales, you can look a tad silly. Thankfully War Child has the decency to usually ask decent acts to create tracks for them. Check out their compilation CDs from 2005 and 1995 and you'll find a bundle of your fave acts performing exclusive tunes, while you get to feel all smug and happy that you're doing your bit for charidee in the process.

Keane's 'The Night Sky' is written from the perspective of a child living in a country ravaged by war and all the funds will go towards helping future generations affected by conflicts. Musically it's not a career high for the band, but it's thankfully not as dour and grating as some of their early work. Tom Chaplin manages to inject a delicate optimism into the despair and horror his lyrics paint. After a sparse and cold piano intro, the track bursts into a shivering melody that lives up to the song's political sentiment. If for nothing else, the band should be praised for making a political statement with some intent and clout rather than the regulation 'Bush's an idiot' remarks dished out by most modern rock stars.