The Urban Dwellers were formed from the three existing members of the Jazz Vandall's;Sarah Weller (vocals), Simon Golding (instruments) and Paul Mundy (beats and noises), as the music moved away from instrumental house into vocal jazz and chilled out beats. The Jazz Vandall's came to the attention Hed Kandi label boss Mark Doyle who promptly put 'Beyond My Imagination' onto Serve Chilled, the second compilation in what's now considered to be one of the most stylish compilation labels. After seeing Sarah sing her version of Lover Man at the finals of the Perrier Young Jazz Awards he commisioned a Jazz Vandall's version for Winter Chill. This track was picked up by the ITV network and used to trail Peak Practice.

Following the Urban Dweller's album's release a new, darker mix of Lover Man picked up by US record label Satellite Records, with a remix from Satoshi Tomie and Blackwatch and was released worldwide. It was supported by DJs John Digweed, Sasha, Rowan Blades, Parks & Wilson, Hybrid, and Sander Klienenberg and BBC radio 1's Pete Tong, then appearing on Telstar's White Label Euphoria and Dave Seamans Global Underground.

REVIEWS

Amazon.co.uk Review
Rooted in jazz, soul and blissed-out dance music, Urban Dwellers are poised to make the strains of life evaporate away. Shop Worn Angel, a collection of cool, grown-up ambient tracks gently directed by a sweet, understated vocal, is certainly music that demands very little effort. "Lover Man", a languid take on the classic jazz standard, gently nudges the album into action. This mind-caressing mood permeates the whole project. Vocalist Sarah Weller possesses a fine voice, wrapping her sultry tones around a selection of original head-nodding tunes, while reinterpreting

oldies like Nat King Cole's "On The Street Where You Live" as intelligent, modern chill-out. Admittedly it's the height of coffee table introspection, often wandering into that dangerous territory marked noodling. However, the idea is simple: place CD in tray, pour large, iced drink, hop into hammock and let this nouveau jazz with a twist relax you like musical valium. Feeling better? -- Paul Tierney

Amazon Customer Review July 2002     
A fantastic mix of jazz and chilled out dance. The Urban Dwellers have been wandering around on the underground jazz scene for years and now, after being picked up by Hed Kandi, and have released a groundbreaking debut album.Stunning vocals from Sarah Weller and expertly mixed beats are evident throughout and Driftin' is based around some amazing guitar harmonies.Combined, this makes Shop Worn Angel a great album for work or relaxation -- Mr. L. Stanley (Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK) 

"They began their musical life as the Jazz Vandall's, now as Urban Dwellers, Sarah Weller, Paul Mundy, and Simon Golding have delivered their debut. The trio's stock is clearly rooted in jazz and while their music doesn't vandalise they do set out to both constuct imaginative new tunes and reconstruct the familliar. The result is a varied 15 tracker which is held together by Weller's distinctive vocal. Her voice is typically English - and it's that "Englishness" that brings the charm to familiar material like "Inner City Blues" and "Lover Man". Of the original tunes " Le Croisic" is a delight, while the end suite "Roulette/Lullaby" is ambitious and lyrically thoughtful. Colour's brought to the album via Arthur Collins' sax groove on the Latin-tinged "Baby I Don't Know Where Love". While "Driftin'" typifies the chill element in the band's music. So, a promising start from a talented trio, and with the right kind of promotion watch the Dwellers fly. (Rating 4) - Bill Buckley (Blues & Soul, Jan 02)

They've already had one of their tracks (Lover Man) championed by Pete Tong, but that's not the only reson to keep an eye on this lot. An eclectic mix of funk jazz and chill-out sounds which bring back memories of sexy nights out, this is the perfect soundtrack for driving or chilling out... in fact, doing almost anything. And Mr Tong's right. It's worth buying for Lover Man alone. (Company, April 02)

"Formally known as acid jazzers the Jazz Vandall's and fronted by the highly talented Sarah Weller (a finalist at the prestigious Perrier Jazz Award a couple of years ago, but don't let that put you off). The Urban Dwellers are set to sizzle this summer with this offering of unpretentious chill-out jazz. Featuring original material as well as covers - Marvin Gaye's 'Inner City Blues' and Nat King Cole's "On The Street Where You Live" both sounding sublime - Shop Worn Angel is the album that might just see Brit Jazz crossing over into the mainstream."(Class April 02)

Jazz, funk and soul from Sarah Weller, Simon Golding and Paul Mundy. Have appeared on various compilation albums but now have proven themselves and been given their very own album. *** (Ruth Hughes, Daily Star April 02)