Disco de Porcupine Tree: “Coma Divine”

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.

The music must really speak for itself because only so much can be said about _Coma Divine_. Pardon the cheesy cliché, but this album is simply beyond words -- and the limited edition two-disc version is even better and YES, it is definitely worth the extra money (even if you have the original!). You get different artwork although you'd have to be ULTRA-hardcore for that fact alone to inspire a purchase (my opinion is that the new art is great, anyhow). The extra music is what is really matters. Okay, it may only be four additional tracks, but they are completely invaluable, completing the perfect set of the original _Coma Divine_ songs and making the album far more fulfilling overall. "IS...NOT" is actually just six-minutes of "The Sky Moves Sideways Part II" and that alone is worth it, but "The Moon Touches Your Shoulder" is pretty much audio sexual chocolate so sublime it could kill. "Up the Downstair" and "Always Never" are narcotic treats that could neatly simulate any hallucinogen. This is easily the best Porcupine Tree album and definitely one of my favorite albums ever. Every song's live version here SLAUGHTERS its counterpart. I'm sure no rock band has ever gotten a live sound onstage anywhere near as beautiful as this. If you have it, you should already know that "Waiting" phases one and two is basically orgasmic, and that "The Sky Moves Sideways" is a kaleidoscopic trippin' epic that truly reaches its potential here, and that "Radioactive Toy" is about as euphoric as a carnal dream of Chyler Leigh....err, ahem. If you don't have it, ARGH you have to have it. Every man dies, but not every man truly lives unless they have _Coma Divine_.

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.

'Coma Divine' is a good 75-minute live recording of UK's prog sensation Porcupine Tree that was recorded in Rome,Italy in March,1997.This disc draws mostly from material from the CD's 'The Sky Moves Sideways' and 'Signify'(see my review).I wasn't at all disappointed when I first landed a copy of this title.In my opinion,the disc's last three cuts,"Moonloop",the fifteen-minute "Radioactive Toy" and "Not Beautiful" pretty much makes 'Coma Divine' a TRUE keeper.That's not to say the other tunes aren't good,for I was decently impressed with "Waiting Phase One","Waiting Phase Two" and the gem "Dislocated Day".Even if you don't have any other Porcupine Tree's releases,'Coma...' would still be worth locating for your listening pleasure.Fans of creative pop,heavy rock,space and maybe even kraut just might be surprised.As far as I can tell,the line up here is:progressive maestro Steve Wilson-vocals&guitar,Colin Edwin-bass,Richard Barbieri-keyboard and Chris Maitland-drums.Heard this was recently reissued as a two-disc set,with the evening's entire performance,I guess.Just might appeal to fans of Flower Kings,Flying Saucer Attack,early Pink Floyd,Spock's Beard and maybe even Yes.

If you are a new PT listener, already have the previous release or new to the PT universe, you must get this album!

It is one of the best live "rock" albums ever and the remastering and extra tracks along with new case artwork help it surpass its already impressive former incarnation.

I have both editions and am not sorry I bought the re-release. No sir/mam, not one bit.