Porcupine Tree Album: “Coma Divine [Digipak]”

This is a great album representing the early stages of Porcupine Tree's music. Flawless playing from the whole band, especially some excellent drumming. Like the first reviewer, I haven't heard the original recording so I can't comment on the remastering. Although I will say that the sound quality is crystal clear and very full, so unless the original was already excellent this must be a great remastering job. I'm not sure which tracks are bonus tracks and I can't be bothered to look it up, but both discs are great beginning to end.

Many people seem to have been introduced to PT through In Absentia, myself included. Although In Absentia is a great album, I do not agree with the previous reviewer who says that this is early work and cannot compare. It's true that this album cannot compare ONLY because these songs are a completely different style of music, and because this is a live recording and In Absentia (obviously) is not. But as far as quality, I really can't say that this material is any less great than In Absentia. In Absentia is more conventional in the sense that the songs are mostly average length and structured while many of the songs on here have longer periods of seemingly free form jamming and instrumentation. Assuming that you like this style of music just as much as the style on In Absentia (which I do), I don't think you will find this to be any less enjoyable than that album.

Overall a great live recording and a pretty good place to start for those introducing themselves to the early PT material.

I'm a fairly recent fan of Porcupine Tree. They represent a new direction for progressive and electronic rock - and of course traditional rock.

My favorite album is Signify which is well represented on Coma Divine including Waiting Phase One and Two and the full version of Signify. Other albums represented include The Sky Moves Sideways (Moonloop, Dislocated Day, The Sky Moves Sideways pt 1) along with tracks from earlier albums.

The recording is excellent, Chris Maitland's drum kit has a clarity that is often missing in live music let alone many studio efforts.

The playing is top notch with Steve Wilson playing spirited guitar and vocals, Richard Barbieri's keyboard work keeps the songs together frequently with the rhythm section of Maitland and Colin Edwin's bass. Barbieri plays within the music and is ambient by nature leaving Steve Wilson to do most soloing. Barbieri may seem somewhat unimportant yet it is his work that keeps Porcupine Tree from being just another tired prog/space rock band. As a band these guys are at the top of their form which gives a rarity in live CDs, a good performance AND good sound.

If you like early Pink Floyd, the more angular King Crimson or really good combinations of excellent songwriting and improvisation this CD is for you.

Steve Wilson when asked about Porcupine Tree and it's being labeled as progressive rock said essentially that they play what they play. To my ears they are a new kind of progressive band, less clinical and more organic sounding, capable of raging prog rock all the way back to pop (although on this effort there's more spacey work than later albums). These guys play up a storm and it's obvious on this recording.

As if that's not enough good stuff the artwork and packaging is striking.

There are few live CDs that I would recommend to beginning listeners and existing fans. If you are even remotely open minded and want a change from formulaic music you owe it to yourself to check out Coma Divine, I strongly recommend it.

I already owned the single-disc version sold on the Delirium label, but I saw this in a record store and couldn't resist (along with the dual-disc 'Signify').

Yes, its a digi-pak, but its still got the plastic snap-on base, glued onto a duo-fold cardboard frame. It includes more (and better) artwork than the old Delirium release (this two-disc set is a Snapper release).

Anyone wowed by PinkFloyd's Ummagumma Live album should listen to this superb recreation of these classic PT cuts (wow, PT's been around long enough to have classics already). All performances are flawless. This is real headphone music, and its a great introduction to older PT material for those not already familiar with the band (though I am remiss that they didn't perform the song 'Sever' on this set).

For those who already own the single-disc version, maybe you should hold off unless you want the dual disc as a collector's item. It might be worth it if you want to upgrade to a remastered copy. Otherwise, there is only an additional 25 minutes on this two-disc set compared to the 76 minute long single disc. Unless you're burning to hear the extra tracks live, the single disc is still a good album. I find the sonics of both the single-disc and the two-disc set to be about the same, which is to say, excellent.

Like many others, I am not always keen on "live" albums. They are often poorly recorded, drawn out, and seemingly released merely to add to the record company's bottom line. While two of those points may be partially true with Coma Divine, no fan can complain about the quality of the recording.

Though its hard to add anything to reviewer R Gorham's comments, I will at least get in his amen corner. Like Gorham, I own the Snapper music remaster of this CD and like him I think the recording is superior. Though some of the songs are a little drawn-out (something you want if you are actually at the concert), Coma Divine should thrill long-time fans of Porcupine Tree. Those new to the band can hear their roots in hard rock/psychedelia right here.

PT is often compared to Pink Floyd. That's fair enough but that doesn't mean its a clone. It is however the brainchild of multi-talented musical polymath Steven Wilson. On Coma Divine, those talents become apparent to any music-lover who listens and just one hearing should squelch any doubts you may have about the depth of those talents.

My favorites here are Waiting Phase One and Phase Two, The Sky Moves Sideways, and Radioactive Toy, the song that could be an anthem for both the current Iranian "president" and the current dictator of North Korea.

In short, Coma Divine is a strong and memorable performance and a worthwhile vehicle for showcasing a future supergroup while it was yet in its adolescence. My advice is to get this now while it is still available. If your musical tastes lie outside the confines of what you are fed on the radio, then Porcupine Tree may be the band for you.

THE BAND: Steve Wilson (guitars, vocals), Richard Barbieri (keyboards) Colin Edwin (bass), Chris Maitland (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (1997) Originally released in '97, this elegant digitally remastered foldout digi-pak was re-released in 2004 by Snapper Music. 2 discs containing 14 total tracks (53+ minutes on disc-1, 47+ minutes on disc-2). Included with the discs is a 6-page booklet containing band pictures, song titles & times. Recorded live in Rome in March 1997.

COMMENTS: The new & improved remastered version of "Coma Divine" is brilliant. New cover artwork and crisp remixed sound makes this totally worthwhile. While England's Porcupine Tree is always beautifully crafted music from the maestro Steve Wilson, this recording is where the band puts it all together on one stage. PT reaches so many different kinds of listeners (or at least they should)... catchy pop, hard rock, retro psychedelic (1970's style in the vein of Pink Floyd), electronic, etc. Wilson's strong writing and guitar wizardry can't help but take you on a mesmerizing journey every time you listen. I enjoy PT's willingness to be different and experiment. 14 tracks are featured on "Coma" - great live rendentions include "Signify", "Waiting - Phase I & II", the 13 minute "Radioactive Toy", "Up The Downstair", "Moonloop" and the 12+ minute "The Sky Moves Sideways", et all. The audience seems fairly small and very enthusiastic (and respectful at the same time)... in some songs you can hear a pin drop. Songs from "The Sky Moves Sideways" album dominate the track list on "Coma Divine". You'll also find a few tunes from "Signify" and a few from earlier releases. Due to this being a 1997 release, you'll find no songs from recent classics "Stupid Dream (1999), "Lightbulb Sun" (2000), or "In Absentia" (2002). Can't wait for a live album from PT featuring tracks from these awesome albums. If you're a fan of Porcupine Tree - you MUST own this release.