The song was released on 2 June 1997 as the second single from his debut studio album, Far from the Maddening Crowds (1997).

[1] Like "Offshore", "Sunstroke" is heavily based on the track, "Love on a Real Train" by Tangerine Dream.

British magazine Music Week rated the song five out of five, writing, "The much anticipated follow-up to 1996's Offshore has all the quality hallmarks of Chicane's minimal yet ethereal house sound with angelic vocals and effectively spacious beats.

"[2] Tim Jeffery from RM gave it four out of five, adding, "On first listen this doesn't appear to match 'Offshore' and 'Footprint' for quality or anthem status, but the simple synth chord sequence is actually very infectious.

It may not be as original or as intricate as its predecessors but it's beautifully produced, crisp and has all the builds and breakdowns you'd expect, making it easy to program and a reliable floorfiller.