Artful Dodger UK represent the rising status of
garage within the U.K. and its slow invasion into the U.S. This
Southampton-based duo comprised of Mark Hill and Pete Devereux
take a slightly different approach to garage than many of their
peers.
Along with Hill's R&B and jazz influences and
Devereux's interest in hip-hop and house, the duo also takes a
more traditional approach to the genre. Unlike many of their fellow
garage producers, Artful Dodger UK chooses not to use vocals or
time-stretching and prefers to re-record vocals when doing remixes.
This approach has won them respect within the garage community
and garnered a substantial amount of hype for "Re-Rewind
(The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)," a popular single in the U.K.
that featured Craig David on vocals.
In summer 2000, Republic Records brought the single
to the U.S., hoping to score a club hit in the generally anti-garage
country. The group has also mixed the Ministry of Sound compilation
Rewind: The Sound of UK Garage.
Accompanied with extensive tour dates, the duo released
the Re-Rewind mix album in late 2000. It's All About the Stragglers
also appeared that same year. In July of 2001, the pair agreed
to an amicable separation. Both members continued to work in the
music industry following the split, with Hill writing, producing,
and remixing, and Devereux DJing under his own name. ~ Jason Birchmeier,
All Music Guide