If you were expecting more novelty pop goodness from Alesha Dixon, a la Boy Does Nothing, then think again. Dixon’s follow-up single, Breathe Slow is a fairly slow, standard R&B number.

I’m only slightly disappointed though, because the hook in the chorus is a good one. I’d just hoped that Alesha would come out with something a bit more daring, cutting edge. Especially if the rumours of her wanting to break America are true – she’s entering a saturated market if this song is anything to go by.

The video’s a  bit of a dull affair as well, if you ask me. She’s officially over-milking the Strictly Come Dancing affiliation by now. The obligation to buy Alesha’s single because you voted for her on Strictly no longer exists.

And a weird thing about Alesha – she has this weird sheen on her eyes that makes my eyes water. I don’t know if any of you get that when you watch the video, but I find it always makes me flick off the music channel whenever this song’s on.

While I was rambling there, Alesha stripped off her coat and is strutting around in a sequined outfit blethering on about ladies never lose composure. Huh?

My official verdict: Alesha must try harder. Breathe Slow is an easy, safe track. I thought she was made of sterner stuff.

The Boy Does Nothing is one of those great singles that ties into the singer’s life. In this case, the refrain about the boy having two left feet ties into Alesha’s big win on Strictly Come Dancing last year.

For those Dixon fans who remember Mis Teeq’s Scandalous and that raw, street vibe that group had, this will be a shock. For those that now know Alesha in her current career as a Saturday-night primetime TV starlet, you could have seen this coming.

Essentially, The Boy Does Nothing is not the edgy material I wanted to hear from Alesha. Listen to the lyrics and it’s essentially a riff on how little her man does around the house…

Does he wash up? Never wash up
Does he clean up? No, he never cleans up
Does he brush up? Never brushed up
He does nothing the boy does nothing

However, if we stop dwelling on the past for a minute, this is one of those tracks that you’ll be unconsciously humming for the next few weeks. And in the video, Dixon not only struts her stuff with supreme confidence, she looks very cute and pleased with herself throughout.

It may not be the most original or earth-shattering releases, but my guess is it’ll get people thinking about Alesha as a singer again.

The Boy Does Nothing is the first single from Alesha’s solo album, The Alesha Show, which is released on 24 November 2008.