Warren Hampshire new album 'Language Of The Birds'

Warren Hampshire is a well-known face on the Isle of Wight music scene, having seen huge success playing keys and guitar in The Bees through the 2000s and recording some of Britain’s most respected new Jazz LPs over the last few years with Greg Foat as Hampshire and Foat for Athens of the North. 

His metronomic skills have put him in the center of many of the island’s bands as a member of session musician and he is as happy playing an acoustic guitar in a small local pub as he is the main stage at Glastonbury (which he has a few times). 

His latest album 'Language Of The Birds’ was recorded solo shortly after completing 'Galaxies Like Grains Of Sand' and 'The Honey Bear' with jazz pianist Greg Foat.  The LP is noticeably influenced by Warren’s love for the countryside and woodlands of the Isle of Wight. 

Warren’s work is also influenced by his interest in catastrophism, the history of extinction events and the use of symbolism employed in the arts and architecture used to communicate knowledge of such events to subsequent civilizations. His music is always deeply personal and honest, connecting directly to the listener; something that has gained him a cult following in psych-jazz and folk realms whilst not falling into any of them. 

Warren’s personal musings hint at ‘60s psychedelic-folk but with a deeper connection to nature and the part we all play within its arms. The mesmerising effect of his music is elevated by his own hand-drawn artwork, evoking memories of vintage children's books, fairy tales, and fantastic worlds.

Most of the instruments on the LP are played by Warren himself, with friends from the island joining him over various tracks. Philip Achille,  one of the UK’s finest harmonica players joined him on ‘I Just Didn't Think You'd Care’; Philip also scored and directed the strings for the LP.