Released on 12/12/12 at 12:12:12 A.M., “Hawaii: Part II” is the first and only album from the mysterious and enigmatic musical group “ミラクルミュージカル” (or “Miracle Musical” in English). Spearheaded and produced in part by former “Tally Hall” member Joe Hawley, this album is advertised to the public as a “once-in-a-lifetime musical” experience and delivers on this promise from all fronts. Make no mistake, there is really only one way to listen to this record, and that is from start to finish and with your eyes closed.
There are many facets of Hawaii: Part II that make it unique, but what really sets it apart from any other album is it’s writing. The lyrics on here are enchanting, poetic, esoteric, and even a bit cryptic. They aren’t so much trying to capture a feeling as they are telling you a story, much like what you would see in a musical. There is so much room for interpretation that it may take many listens of a certain song before you feel like you have a grasp on it. The creative writing on here doesn’t shy away from using typically unorthodox methods (such as the Hawaiian chanting of colors in the background of “Black Rainbows” or the symbolic Japanese lyrics of “宇宙ステーションのレベル7”), and is very loud in how it thrives in it’s unconventionality.
Along with the writing, the tracks on this album are also very strong in how they present some pretty hard-hitting themes. Perhaps in no song is this clearer than that of “The Mind Electric”. Themes of despair, panic, and personal anguish are all present in full blast on this extremely chaotic and disturbing track. Other examples include “Isle Unto Thyself”, “Labyrinth”, and “Time Machine” with their themes of isolation and loneliness, and “Murders” and “White Ball” with their themes of death.
If there is one thing that is frustrating about this album, it’s how many people don’t know about it. In truth, there has been next to no advertising for either the record or Miracle Musical themselves. However, perhaps this was an intentional and conscious decision. As the final lyrics on the closing track “Dream Sweet in Sea Major” go, Hawaii: Part II is truly a musical experience masterpiece that is “invisible to some, until it's time”.