This is a very personal song that was inspired by my dad. I wrote it, I think, around 1995/96. My dad was a typical British 'stiff upper-lip' type of man who didn't find it easy to show his emotions. When you're a little boy it's not easy to comprehend why your dad doesn't want to do the things that your mum does, such as play, hug you and tell you that he loves you. So although I had a good relationship with my dad I drew inspiration from those young emotions and came up with the idea for this song.

Sadly, my dad passed away in 2008. I loved him very much and there literally hasn't been a single day that's gone by when I haven't thought about him. Even though this song was written a number of years before he died it means so much more to me now and I really struggle to sing it, even more than 6 years on, but somehow I managed to put this demo together.

So to you fathers - don't shy away from spending time with your children, holding them close and telling them that you love them. And the same to you children, no matter what your age - don't hold back from showing your appreciation to your parents, telling them that you love them and spending valuable time with them, especially as they get older. Once we are separated by death it's too late and regret is a terrible thing to have to live with.

Don't Turn Me Away (Demo)

(Glenn Shepherd - Guitars, harmony vocals, keyboards, drum programming.

David Reader - Lead vocal, bass guitar, harmony vocals.)

This song was written by David around 1994/95. I don't know what the song was inspired by - I'll have to ask him and update the description when I find out!

One Rule (Westcut)

(Glenn Shepherd - Nylon acoustic guitar, harmony vocals, keyboards, drum programming, sampling.

David Reader - Lead vocal, bass guitar, electro-acoustic guitar.)

David's written some fantastic songs over years and this remains one of my favourites. I have absolutely no idea what it's about or what inspired him and, to be honest, I'm not sure that he has any idea either!

An interesting side-note of this song is that it's the only song we've ever recorded where I have sung all the harmonies. Usually on recordings I would sing the tenor harmony and David would sing the baritone, but he was struggling to nail the harmony on this track for some reason, so we decided to see what it would sound like if I sang it instead. We were happy to discover that it worked perfectly. What I find interesting is that even we sometimes don't notice until we actually remember the fact or carefully analyse the song! I think that it just goes to show what a great fit our voices are together.

For those interested in some of the other sounds, the string sounds used during the guitar solo weren't orchestral samples like the ones used elsewhere. Rather, I made a switch over to a Mellotron VST as I thought it would provide an interesting change of atmosphere. At least that's what I tell people - it was probably more to do with the fact that I'm a Moody Blues fan and I was looking for en excuse to use the Mellotron VST! ;-)

The other bit of fun we threw in was the use of another VST instrument called the Delay Lama. It's the only VST i've ever come across that's supposed to sound like a Tibetan Monk! Anyway, as soon as we discovered it we decided that it just HAD to go in this song, so listen out to the last chorus and you should hear him! ;-)

Now I'm Alone Again (Westcut)

(Glenn Shepherd - Guitars, harmony vocals, keyboards, drum programming, percussion.

David Reader - Lead vocal, bass guitar, harmony vocals.)

This is the oldest song on the album, written by David and a friend of ours, Rachel Wilcock, in 1992! All I know about the inspiration for the song is that David got the idea while out walking in the countryside. Rachel helped with some of the lyrics.

The song is one of the very few times either of us have written a song that doesn't actually contain the title in the lyrics.

Journey Through Emotions (Westcut)

(Glenn Shepherd - Guitars, lead vocal

David Reader - Bass guitar.)

This is one of the newer songs on "Looking Ahead", being written in the January of 2003. It's a very personal song that I wrote on the very day that I got my heart broken by a girl with whom I was deeply in love. The lyrics say it all, really.

The Day We Said Goodbye (Westcut)

(Glenn Shepherd - Guitars, harmony vocals, keyboards, drum programming.

David Reader - Lead vocal, bass guitar, harmony vocals.)

This is another of my favourite songs of David's. What/who it's about/inspired by? I don't know! I shall ask David and update accordingly. I'm pretty certain that it isn't about a girl actually by the name of Jo.

Although I love the song itself, I am not happy with the mix and the orchestration on this track. Hopefully it won't detract from your enjoyment and appreciation of David's excellent song.

Jo (Westcut)

(Glenn Shepherd - Guitars, lead and harmony vocals, keyboards, drum programming.

David Reader - Bass guitar, harmony vocals.)

This is one of my older songs, written around 1993/94. I wanted to go for an 80's rock sound so it's very guitar and synth-string heavy. I have to admit that it isn't one of my better vocal performances, the vocal sounding much too thin for starters. Maybe one day I'll record a new version.

The song is about knowing someone very well and knowing that they are not being honest about how they feel, either to you or to herself, hence being able to see the sadness in her eyes.

The Sadness In Your Eyes (Westcut)

("If You Would Love Me": Glenn Shepherd - Guitars, keyboards, orchestration.

David Reader - Lead vocal, bass guitar.

"Absolution (Reprise): Glenn Shepherd - Guitar, harmony vocals.

David Reader: Lead and harmony vocals.)

"If You Would Love Me" is an exquisite song written by David. It's a heartfelt declaration of the anguish felt when in love but not knowing what to do about it. This was one of the more challenging songs to arrange as we wanted it to have an orchestral backing. It's by no means perfect but I think I did a pretty okay job for a beginner!

The reprise of "Absolution" follows what we came up with during an ad-lib jam session. The full, orchestrated version can be found at the beginning of the album.

If You Would Love Me/Absolution (Reprise) (Westcut)

(Glenn Shepherd - Guitars, lead vocal, keyboard.)

This is a very short but very emotional song. I was moved to write it when a very close friend had a miscarriage and, tragically, lost her baby. I wrote it from the perspective of how a mother would comfort her child ("Dry your tears, my little one..." etc) but as the song concludes it becomes clear that this is not actually the case. Rather, it is trying to convey a sense of comfort and love based on what the child may have said to its mother had it been possible to do so. So in summary, the song is the hypothetical message of comfort and love given by the child to its mother, but the song itself is presented in the form of a lullaby as sung by mother to child. It makes sense in my head, at least!

We decided that this would be a nice song to include as a 'hidden' track on the album.

"Dry your tears, my little one
Sleep, yes sleep peacefully, bad dreams are gone
Close your eyes and dream of me
Look to the future and what it could be

For you know in your heart I'll always be there
So lay down and dream of the love that we share

Love can never die
Love can't say goodbye
So believe in the gladness
Remember that sadness can fade if you try and open your eyes
And sing to me love's lullaby"


Love's Lullaby (Westcut)

(David Reader - Lead vocal, bass guitar.

Glenn Shepherd - Acoustic guitar, lead guitar, harmony vocals, drums.)

This is a song of David's that he wrote a few years ago, but it's one that we always love playing and it seemed the obvious choice for our first new recorded, original music in 13 years!

I Need You - Demo (Westcut)

I am a singer/guitarist/songwriter from the UK. I am also trained and experienced in audio engineering and production.

I have a somewhat eclectic taste in music but my biggest influence is the beat music of the 60s, especially The Hollies.

In addition to The Hollies, I am also heavily influenced by The Electric Light Orchestra, The Moody Blues, Crosby Stills & Nash and Roy Wood.