Coma Divine: Recorded Live in Rome [LIVE]

Porcupine Tree

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 24, 2004)
• Original Release Date: August 24, 2004
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Madfish Records UK
• ASIN: B0002CU4XY
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #103,594 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Two CD pressing of this live release from the British Prog/Art rockers. Riding high on the success of their 1996 album Signify, the band embarked on an extensive European tour. Three gigs in Rome from this tour were captured in stunning digital clarity to make up their first official live album, Coma Divine. This special edition contains bonus tracks not included on the original 1997 release, including 'Radioactive Toy' and 'Up The Downstair' along with the pick of the band's first four albums. K-Scope. 2009. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Early Tree Captured - Live In Rome '97, December 7, 2006

By	R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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

THE DISC: (1997) Originally released in '97 (containing 10 tracks), 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 (5 stars).

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great live album., April 29, 2005

By	Sepulhead (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The psychedelic vacation, June 12, 2006

By	Jaysen Hellis "Jay" (Australia) - See all my reviews

Live albums seem to be only for the die hard fans of particular bands. When you're unsure of the particular content of their material, what basis for contrast do you have, right? I feel that's wrong, and upon visiting JB's I picked up a rather tasty 2 CD pack titled Coma Divine by one of England's best psychedelic alternatives, Porcupine Tree.
Relatively unheard of down here in Oz, Porcupine Tree can be summed up in a short amount of words. Pink Floyd of the 21st century.
Their variety of instruments, additional synthesisers and sound effect's shows why Steven Wilson (Front man and heart + soul of the band) is a musical wizard.
It shows in this album. Recorded live in Rome before a modest crowd, the band plays songs you can find on recent albums (Signify, On the Sunday of life...) as well as improvised instrumentals.
This entire album is just one large psychedelic vacation taking you on a philosophical journey about technology and social consciousness. In one word this album - inspiring.