COMA DIVINE

Review by ProgKidJoel

A truly perfect live album, which captures Porcupine Tree at their all time psychedelic high, COMA DIVINE is 2 discs of pure pleasure. This disc can be looked upon as a live best of - Its a single show, although shows many of the best tracks from Porcupine Tree's first four albums in a live setting. The instrumentation here is perfect - This is before John Wesley stepped in as a session musician for the band, so all of the guitar work is done by Steven Wilson, with some vocal backup from Chris Maitland on the drums. This is a true space rock opera, featuring the band's spaciest work to date in a truly awe-inspiring single concert. Not only is the setlist perfect, but the tracks all feature some amazing improvisation, particularly from Chris Maitland. This recording truly puts Chris in the ball park when he goes head to head with Gavin Harrison, and this is by far his best moment. His vocal work here is also fantastic.

My favourite live versions on this album are Waiting (both phases), Dislocated Day and Up The Downstair. Both feature some stellar differences from the studio versions, and this works to great effect in creating a gratifying re-listen of songs I'm already incredibly familiar with. It's hard to believe this is done in a live setting - The band plays better here than they have on any of their recordings to date, and persistently thrill with the small touches which make this album perfect.

Every track here is significantly different from the studio recordings in one way or another. The tempo is changed in Dislocated Day, being played at a seemingly impossible faster speed. The Sky Moves Sideways Phase One is cut down to 12 minute track, with only the Is... NOT section of phase two being played. The ending riff of The Moon Touches Your Shoulders flows perfectly into the middle riff of Always Never, and the band creates a truly unique live performance with these adjustments.

This is a truly fantastic live album, an even better introduction to the psychedelia that was 90's Porcupine Tree, and an even better supplement to any PT fan's collection!

A truly essential recording, and one of the finest of the past 20 years.

-Joel

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