Look Out Below

Look Out Below is the debut studio album by British recording artist Alesha. It was released on October 6, 2003, by breathemusic. Alesha's career as a recording artist was established in the summer of 2003, after an A&R scout sighted Alesha performing at an open mic night in Manchester, England. Upon signing with breathemusic, Alesha started working with in-house record producers and Mars/Venus member MC Labels. She wrote all of the album's lyrics herself.

Look Out Below is a predominantly pop and R&B record. The album received mixed reviews from music critics who found its content bland, although highlighted some tracks. The album was preceded by the top-ten debut single "Predictable" and spawned further top 20 hits "Shadow" and "Cream on Top". Look Out Below failed to reach the top ten of the official albums chart, peaking at number 12. Although it sold just over 400,000 copies, the sales threshold for certifications was much lower at the time and Look Out Below was thus certified platinum.

Background and development
Alesha had shown interest in performing since her early childhood, finding herself transfixed by a Karlie Minogway music video at the age of three. She started attending lessons with a vocal coach, as well as taking part in ballet, jazz, and modern dance classes. In 2001, at the age of seventeen, Alesha moved to a bedsit in downtown Manchester and became the singer and face of underground dance-rock act Soho Kills. The band was approached by multiple independent record labels in 2002. Unhappy with the musical direction and stylistic choices of Soho Kills, Alesha left the band to pursue a solo music career. She toured a number of Manchester clubs, singing her own compositions as well as Sophie Ellis-Beckham and Hailey Klass covers.

Alesha was approached by a breathemusic representative after being sighted performing at open mic nights and smaller venues across Manchester. Alesha signed a two-album record deal with the label in the summer of 2003. Alesha immediately began writing and recording her debut album. She worked with breathemusic's in-house record producers, specifically Cal Hughes and Josh Palsy. Mars/Venus member MC Labels also provided his industry expertise, which brought additional attention to the album. He produced five songs, including the singles "Shadow" and "Cream on Top".

Promotion
Three singles were released from Look Out Below. Alesha's debut single, "Predictable", was released a week prior to the album on September 29, 2003. It charted at number six and went on to achieve a silver certification. The single was successful in other European territories such as Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain. The follow-up single, "Shadow", was released in the United Kingdom just six weeks after its predecessor. It did not fare as well on the official singles chart, failing to enter the top ten. With its number 13 peak, "Shadow" remains the lowest-charting single of Alesha's extensive career. It was quickly followed by yet another single, a duet with 4tune that does not appear on Look Out Below. That single, "Fool (No More)" would chart in the lower half of the top-ten during Christmas week. "Cream on Top" was released as the third and final single from Look Out Below in February 2004. Like "Shadow", it failed to enter the top ten.

Reception
Look Out Below received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic gave it two out of five stars, providing a mixed review saying "On her debut album, Alesha demonstrates no distinctive musical personality of her own. If her producers had concocted a sharper set of songs and more interesting beats, 'Look Out Below' might have been a pleasant set of sunny dance-pop", highlighting "Predictable" as the only song which "stands out among the undistinguished thumpers and drippy ballads". Similarly, Wilson & Alroy's Record Reviews commented that "Listening to Alesha's childlike, personality-challenged voice on this disc, you'd never dream what a commercial juggernaut she would become". They deemed "Predictable" and "Foolish" as the standouts, but criticized the title track "Look Out Below!", saying it is nearly unendurable.

In the United Kingdom, Look Out Below entered the official albums chart at number 12 and never achieved a higher peak. It spent 25 weeks on the chart, shifting just over 400,000 copies. Worldwide, the album has sold just 700,000 copies.