91Èȱ¬

(. It contains neither dancing nor judging.)

Anyway, having weathered the storm, Alesha is releasing an extended version of the album she originally brought out off the back of her success in last year's Strictly. It's not unlike the Lady GaGa situation but with less frothing at the mouth from the internet at large. Where once there was just 'The Alesha Show', there is now 'Encore', four new songs to help remind people that she has a day job, and that she's pretty good at it.

This is one of those songs, and Alesha co-wrote it with Gary Barlow. I don't really need to say that, because it's incredibly obvious from the first listen. It's got, like, Barlow cooties all over it.

By which I mean it's a plaintive ballad, which starts kind of small and intimate and ends kind of huge and expanded. It is untroubled by excessive twiddles and frills, does not seem unduly puffed-up or steroidal, and suffers slightly - but only very slightly - from a pre-existing genetic condition known as forgettabilititus.

It sounds for all the world like a classic Gary Barlow ballad - a slower 'Patience', Coldplay piano and all - with amended words to suit Alesha's personal circumstances, and her voice instead of his.

So essentially what I'm saying is that she has once again booted out someone older and (slightly) less photogenic than her, in order further her own selfish ends.

We're going to hell in a handcart! In this day and age! Call the tabloids! Call OFFCOM! Tell Sarah Cawood! What is THAT ALL ABOUT, EH?

Download: Out now
CD Released: November 15th

91Èȱ¬ Music page

(Fraser McAlpine)