Dry the Rain

Recorded in 1997 as the centrepiece of The Beta Band's Champion Versions EP. The track was written and developed by Steve Mason, Gordon Anderson, Robin Jones and John Maclean, combining live instrumentation, folk influences and studio experimentation. The song became the group's breakthrough recording and an early statement of their eclectic approach to songwriting and production. Its profile grew substantially after being featured in the 2000 film High Fidelity, introducing the band to a wider international audience. It remains The Beta Band's best-known song and a touchstone of late-1990s British alternative music. The track's blend of acoustic songwriting, psychedelia and sample-based production influenced a generation of indie and experimental artists.