Album Notes

Bio:

The band was born during spring 2000 after meeting the mauritian guru "Sunshine Vivek." Islands, limpid ocean, curly waves all created ‘’the star and key of the Indian ocean’’ and their tremendous surf beat ! The four secret agents composing the band still rock the crowd with their groovy/reverbin’ tunes…

Discography:

^ Heads or Tails - vinyl 10" - (Unfair records, France, 2007)
^ Lost in Tyme, n°2 - CD compilation + fazine (Greece, 2005)
^ SuperFuzz - cd compilation - (Low Fly records, Portugal, 2005)
^ Vintage Soup ... - CD album - (Green Cookie records, Greece, 2005)
^ "More to Enjoy Vol.II" - CD compilation – (Unfair records, France, 2004)
^ "Breizh Disorder VOL.4" - 2xCD & 2xLP compilation – (Mass Prod., France, 2004)
^ "Rock'N'Roll Fiasco" - CD album – (Green Cookie records, Greece, 2003)
^ "KONGPILATION 10 ANS DE BAN.JUICE’’ 2xCD comp. – (Banana Juice records, France, 2003)
^ "More to Enjoy Vol.1" - 7" compilation – (Nasty But Fair records, France, 2002)
^ "Kongpilation No4" - CD compilation – (Banana Juice records, France, 2002)
^ "Surf Strike !" - CD album – (Green Cookie records, Greece, 2002)
^ CD-R DEMO (2001)

Reviews:

“Franco-surfband The Star And Key Of The Indian Ocean are four guys in their mid-twenties, though not all are French as guitarist Davy Boy hails from that well-known American surfin' hotspot: Tennessee. Formed at the Nantes art school, this union of musicians with backgrounds in rock, pop, electronic and hard core music deliver '60s surf with 21st century dynamics. Their twin guitar arrangements incorporate all our favourite surf trademarks with damped picking, tremolo chords and plenty of drive. Their first album showed great promise and their second delivers, big time. It's become a summer fave here at Pipeline Towers and is sure to impress worldwide.”

Alan Taylor – Pipeline magazine (UK)

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“Star and Key of the Indian Ocean is more than just an unusual name for a band. It's a sound borne of the deep throated rumble of the surf, with all the tribal energy and melody implied. Power, pleasure, and invention conspire with spies and bronze riders of the curl to create a fresh approach to the genre. This, their second release, also shows considerable growth and fuller sound. Worth seeking out. Worth seeking out. Much richer sound than on the last release, with reverb and a rock beat. Vocals include "Crystallized Fruit Girl," "Surfin' Loungeville," and the Nova's 1964 seminal garage surf monster.”

"Squad Bike" ***
On the periphery of surf beat wise, but well reverbed and double picked, with glissandos and a gutsy riff. The melody line is very surfable, and the big chords splash along side the double picking well.
Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Johnny Guitar" ****
This track has a spy-ish sound, as well as an oceanic quality. A surf rhythm guitar's damped reverb carries the surfability. On the catchy side, with grumbly bass and drive "Johnny Guitar" is solid and just menacing enough. It is not the old Victor Young / Peggy Lee standard.
Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Thessaloniki" ***
The shimmer of vibrato rings out across the surf as "Thessaloniki" rolls along on its way to the cove. A rock 'n' roll beat grumbles under a rising intensity. Solid track.
Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Easy Tune" ****
Great drums a la the Breakers' "Jet Stream" launch this track. Some tweaky damped picking adds to the vintage Midwest sound. The surf rhythm and bass grumble complete the scene. This is a fine track!
Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Surfari" ****
The Original Surfaris' 1963 namesake epic "Surfari" is mean and rock solid. Deep throated reverb and double picked power abound. One fine cover.
Surf Instrumental Stereo

"36 District" ****
This is a plodding surf grumbler along the lines of Vistas' "No Return," but gutsier and deeper. Damped reverb, slow drama, and some flashy string swipes preceding long glissandos. Very cool!
Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Haut Les Mains" ****
Heavy surf rhythm and a high lead guitar open into a throaty and somewhat grumpy surf tune. Solid double picking and menacing rumble. There's danger here boys and girls. "Haut Les Mains" coms in two parts, separated by a short silence.
Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Nasty Butt Twist" ***
Tuff drums and double picked lead guitar over a relentless beat. Vibrato twang chords and shimmer with menacing guitar. A fine track.
Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Mega Tsunami" ***
A too-long hot rod intro (almost a minute) eventually leads to a poundy surf thrash. While it's not really melodic, its trashy chords and reverb, coupled with it's double picked flailing, render it a demanding power trip.
Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Poisoned Coconuts" ****
The rhythm guitar opens, is augmented by the drums, and then the bass rumbles in too. This is pure riff rock surf rhythm... no melody, yet the early surf simplicity and reverb splash required. Very effective!
Surf Instrumental Stereo

"French Kiss, Tahiti Love" ****
This is a playful, sorta Spanish song, with a slower pace and tropical feeling. Vibrato shimmer, rich surf tone, and a solid sense of adventure. Dramatic, delicate, pulsing, and a little spooky.
Surf Instrumental Stereo

"Surf Beat" ****
Unlisted, this is past a long silence at the end of "The Crusher." The sea shore sounds and yakking of party goers precede a "Surf Beat" intro. Surf riff rock with an eye on the tribal dance of the Rendezvous Ballroom. Fun and primal surf.
Surf Instrumental Stereo


Phil Dirt - Reverb Central (USA)

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“The Star And The Key Of Indian Ocean is new pearl of euro surf scene. They are coming from France and this is their 2nd CD. Influences of US 60s surf bands like Trashmen and Super Stocks are nicely mixed with precise and crystal clean exotic sound of 60s euro surf bands. You can feel the warmness of south seas breeze, sun, sea and summer - specially in song Thessaloniki. Beautiful guitars, fast rhythms, exotic melodies and here and there smell of burned rubber on warm asphalt - every song on this CD is killer. Just listen to 'Squad Bike', 'Surfari', 'Baut Les Mains', 'Mega Tsunami' ... My favorite is definitely beautiful and romantic 'French Kiss, Tahitii Love'. Great cover of 'The Crusher' (Novas) closes this cool CD. The Star And The Key Of Indian Ocean is not only instro band - they can also sing and pretty good, well in English with nice French accent that makes it sound more exotic. Anyway if you didn't have enough of this very hot summer 2003 - 'Rock'n'Roll Fiasco' is something you need!”

Vanya – No Brains Zine (Netherlands) http://www.nobrainsrecords.com

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Okay, their name might be a mouthful, but this French surf band has been steadily gaining popularity in Europe. On this album, the band’s second, influences are drawn from a wide variety of sources, including 60s garage, spy soundtracks and straightforward surf rock. The accent may be on the rich reverb guitar sound, however there are a couple standout exotica-tinged tracks. ‘Thessaloniki’ combines an Island flavour with primal drumming that rises to spectacular finish. ‘French Kiss, Tahiti Love’, the album’s most notable track, starts as a slow instrumental creeper with a laid back Polynesian feel that will leave the gentle scent of salt water in your nose. Although I found the cover of The Novas seminal garage/wrestling anthem ‘The Crusher’ that caps the album a little uninspired, The Star & Key Of The Indian Ocean are an easy recommendation for surf or exotica aficionados.

Mai Tai, Paul Corupe © 2004