Naikaku ~ Japan

Wheel of Fortune (2003)

---1/17/07

An aggressive and complex instrumental rock with the leads being shared by heavy guitar (not metal) and a contrasting flute. I was reminded of the obscure US group Atavism of Twilight, a sound that disappeared practically before it started. It’s more complicated than Argentina’s Tanger, but not too far off the mark. Kenso is another reference, but Naikaku aren’t as symphonic.

---8/18/25

I wrote the above for their next album Shell, which I heard first. That synopsis can certainly apply here to their debut as well. I obtained Wheel of Fortune about five months later in 2007, and that was my last listen. The opening of Wheel of Fortune might as well put an exclamation point as the final word on what aggressive guitar and flute can sound like. It sounds like Happy Family for the flute rock crowd. The music can sometimes veer off into a looser jazz motif. Only to return back to super tight heavy instrumental rock. And the guitar tone can get to the heavy metal point. Come to think of it, I hear some Praxis in their sound. It's more focused and less electronic oriented, but the guitar playing and jazz backdrop is what triggered the thought. I really enjoy the contrast between the beauty (flute) and the beast (guitar). The rhythm section is no slouch either. They're quite active and push the proceedings to a more kinetic level. Final track is a cover of Focus' 'Hocus Pocus' which fits their sound like hand in glove. And the instruments they use to imitate the yodeling is hilarious.

The titles are in Japanese and some are quite bizarre. Someone made an attempt on Discogs to translate. 

Here's track 2: 'In Short, You've Just Changed "Point Of View", Don't You? It's Only A Superficial Part, Right? Modern? Or Post-Modern? We Don't Care. Go Home! Go Back To That Sea!'. 

And track 4: '629 Items In Trash Can And Using 380.1MB. Want To Delete These Items?'

Naikaku were a short-lived group who only made two albums. And one very obscure undated cassette according to Discogs.

Ownership: 2003 Freiheit (CD). Booklet with artwork and recording details.

6/14/07 (acquired); 8/18/25 (review)

Also own and need to review Shell.

8/18/25 (new entry)