Snow storm song of the day: 'In-Between' by Chet Faker

For a song made in the middle of the biggest blizzard in living memory this is a remarkably upbeat, almost tropical-sounding track. Kicking off with some great drums, it mixes some Balearic-type guitar and bass with the voice of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio giving his speech about the emergency situation in New York. You can grab the track for free below.

Recommended music: 'Island' by Ruf Dug

Arriving perfectly in time for your summer holidays, 'Island' is the sound of beach, sea and sunshine encapsulated in vinyl. From the moment that 'Tendacayou' starts up you're immediately transported to a hazy, shimmering world of heat and light that evokes that feeling of the sun warming your bones as you escape the world.

Recorded in Guadeloupe over 12 weeks using a host of portable equipment, Ruf Dug's first album for the Music For Dreams label is perfect for whatever island you may be heading to this year, whether that's somewhere lonely and deserted, or somewhere more hedonistic like Ibiza. Influenced in part by Wally Badarou's work at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, there are also other lineages on display here, in particular on the first two tracks. 'Tendacayou' is very reminiscent of somvee of the ambient records that The Art of Noise made (particularly their cover of 'Robinson Crusoe'), while 'Speedboat' has more than a hint of John Carpenter. 'Mangrove Dub' also has that Art of Noise feel, while the album's stand-out track 'Le Rayon Vert' could easily have been included on any Cafe del Mar compilation. Steeped in Balearic sunrises it features the guest vocals of Nev Cottee, and is pretty much guaranteed to be included on any mixtapes I make for the rest of the year.

It's not entirely successful, with the noodling 'Mosquito' being the most disappointing track here, but overall it's a pretty great soundtrack for the summer.

'Islands' is out now on double vinyl, and you can stream the whole thing below. BTW, big shout to the team and Wax and Stamp for including this in their package this month - I doubt I'd have heard it otherwise.

Remix of the Day: 'The Forest (Richard Norris Mix)' by Black Rivers

Just a few days after his brilliant mix of Public Service Broadcasting, Mr Richard Norris has come up trumps again. I must admit to not being that impressed with Black Rivers when I saw them supporting Elbow recently, but here they're reworked and re-energised in a way that I very much approve of. At this rate I'll have a whole Balearic-infused mixtape of Norris remixes by the time I go to Ibiza in July.

Remix of the Day: 'Gagarin (Richard Norris Vostok Remix)' by Public Service Broadcasting

Whether as part of the Time and Space Machine with Erol Alkan or on his own, Richard Norris' remixes are always guaranteed to please. Here the takes the funked-up brass laden 'Gagarin' and mellows it out with strings and Spanish guitar, creating a perfect Ibiza sunrise moment (if only we weren't stuck in England in February).



The track is available for free here in exchange for your email address. And if you're feeling the Balearic vibe then you should also check the remix below from 'The Way Out Sound From In', the 2014 album that collected together some of Richard's best remixes. In this one he digs uo long-forgotten band A Mountain of One and sets them off on horseback into the sunset.

Video of the Day: 'The Sunlight' by New Build

The first track to appear from New Build's second album 'Pour It On' has a gloriously blissed-out Balearic feel that puts me in mind of the stuff The Beloved used to do back in the day (ask your dad if you're too young to remember). Felix and Al (from Hot Chip) have crafted a great track here that bodes well for the album, which comes out on Sunday Best on October 20th. They'll be on their first ever live tour in October and November to support the album so catch them out and about if you can.