New music from Sophie Ellis-Bextor popped up in iTunes this past week, though it wasn’t the U.S. appearance of the her brilliant 2011 dance-pop opus, Make A Scene. Her fourth studio album has been out in the UK since June, while Russia surprisingly got the jump on everyone, with Make A Scene making its worldwide debut there in April.

Instead, Ellis-Bextor is among the artists who’ve contributed music to a new charity compilation, Songs To Save A Life. Proceeds from the set benefits Samaritans, a UK organization that staffs a 24-hour help line for those feeling suicidal or dealing with issues of depression and in need of someone to talk to. Samaritans fields 5 million calls each year, an astounding one call every six seconds.

The 11-track Songs To Save A Life features newly recorded original songs and covers by a mix of established musicians and newcomers, including Ellis-Bextor, KT Tunstall, James Morrison, The Overtones, Ed Harcourt, Lucie Silvas, Jon Allen, Graham Gouldman of 10cc, Katie Kim, Jay James Picton, and Queen Orlenes.

Among the eight covers on Songs To Save A Life, James Morrison tries on David Bowie’s “Changes,” KT Tunstall puts a more meditative spin on Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” while Jay James Picton gives James Taylor’s “You’ve Got A Friend” a gospel-soul feel. But understandably, the standout is Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s recording of Arcade Fire’s “Rebellion (Lies),” from the Montreal band’s 2004 debut, Funerals. First, because the pairing seems unusual on paper, and second, because Ellis-Bextor pulls it off with such ease, effortlessly marrying her pop sensibilities to the indie-rock fave.

The only scene-making here is of the very good kind. Preview Ellis-Bextor’s cover of “Rebellion (Lies)”:

Rebellion (Lies) – Sophie Ellis-Bextor by songstosavealife

Purchase Sophie Ellis-Bextor – “Rebellion (Lies)” (Arcade Fire cover) via iTunes.