Big Change: Songs for FINCA

I go out of my way to avoid charity albums put together by celebrities, but I’m making an exception for Big Change: Songs for FINCA that was released on iTunes this week.

There are three reasons why I’m making an exception: the celeb is Natalie Portman, it includes tracks by some of my favourite performers and it’s for a cause I believe in.

The big news is that it contains an exclusive track from Beirut, My Night With the Prostitute From Marseille. You can stream the track on EW. It also has tracks from other faves of mine Antony & the Johnsons, Angus and Julia Stone (if you’re not familiar with them check out Mango Tree), Devendra Banhart, Norah Jones and Tokyo Police Club.

FINCA provide loans, insurance and savings plans for people on very low incomes. The money is lent mainly to people setting up small, family business in developing countries who would otherwise never be able to get a loan and get their business started. I’m a strong believer in this type of charity. The money is spent in the way the person receiving it thinks best, helps them lift themselves and their family out of poverty, gets repaid and goes on to help more people (97% of loans are paid back on time). You can read more about them on villagebanking.com.

IODA (the company releasing the tracks) are even nice enough to be giving away Sean Hayes’ contribution (see below). So head over to iTunes and download the Beirut track at least.

Sean Hayes
“Turnaroundturnmeon” (mp3)
from “Big Change: Songs for FINCA”
(ioda)

Buy at iTunes Music Store