COMA DIVINE

This was my first touch of Porcupine Tree, or Porcupink Floyd, as they were actually called by a Rock radio DJ. The gig from which this live is taken was performed in Rome, in a place very close to my office, so I still regret having missed it.

Let's forget Bornlivedieintro and start from the first effective song.

"Signify" has one of the most impressive Metal attacks, very good to open a concert and not properly Floydian so to contraddict the DJ mentioned before. The tempo is everything but 4/4 and the melody changes 3 or four times in less than 6 minutes. What is more prog than this? Excellent drumming, too. Another thing few Floydian.

From the same studio album, "Waiting phase one and two" is one of my favourite PF songs. What I like more here is the bass line that doubles the drums. Also the guitar solo after the first singing is very good. Let me add that I can't see David Gilmour anywhere. Maybe a bit of Wright in the keyboard background behind the vocals. The second solo guitar closes phase one. Then a minor keyboard chord introduces Phase two. Percussions (congas) and drums join the keyboard, then bass. On this base, guitar notes remind to the middle part of "Saucerful of Secrets" at least in the sounds used. It continues more or less in this way until a solo drum invites guitar to the 3rd solo. It has a sort of oriental flavour (Now I think more to Camel) then it ends.

"The Sky Moves Sideways" is what conquered me. The instrumental intro with that guitar is fantastic, then it slows down and the singing starts. A five star track with no doubts. It's quite floydian until a funky section in the middle. I can't add anything else. Just listen to it.

"Dislocated Day" is another classic PT song from their metallic side, even if the oriental flavour makes it very prog. A nice drum solo closes the song.

"The sleep of no dreaming" is a slow ballad which contains good guitar riffs.4-5 stars.

"Moonloop" is one of the most athmospheric tracks. The sound quality, taking into account that it's a live, is remarkable. It is quiet and slow for about 9 minutes, then it changes to space rock. If it's not the most Floydian track of the album is because of the presence of "Radioactive Toy".

Respect to the studio version PT have added an introduction that makes it more Floydian if possible. This is one of my favourite PT tracks and the way they proposed it in the live is exceptional. It pays the cost of the whole album.

The last track "Not Beautiful Anymore" doesn't add much to what already said.

In summary, this is a very good live with an excellent sound quality, specially in the most athmospheric and quiet parts leaving intact the sensation of the live arena. The song's list contains the PT best up to when the gig was recorded so it's essential for who likes the Porcupine Tree.