Coma Divine – Recorded Live in Rome or just Coma Divine, is a live album by Britishprogressive rock band Porcupine Tree, first released in October, 1997. It was expanded to a double album in 2003, adding the three tracks from the promotional singleComa Divine II (1999), and one more previously unreleased outtake. The expanded edition was also released on vinyl containing 3 LPs, plus a bonus 7 inch single with two demo versions of the song "Disappear" (included on the Four Chords That Made a Million single in 2000, and on the compilation album titled Recordings, from 2001).
The album was finally revamped in digipack through Snapper label in 2004.
Recording
The band recorded three shows at the Frontiera in Rome (on 25, 26 and 27 March 1997) for the purpose of this release; however, only recordings from the 2nd and 3rd night were used, as the recordings from the first concert were flawed with technical problems. A vast amount of material had been performed during the shows, but the band eventually decided to release only the best performances on a single CD. While later the album was reissued as a double CD featuring an extra 25 minutes of music, there are still other unreleased performances from the show, featuring full versions of "The Moon Touches Your Shoulder" and "Always Never," both original phases of "Voyage 34," "Dark Matter," "Burning Sky," "Stars Die," "Idiot Prayer," "The Nostalgia Factory," the first performances of "Every Home is Wired," and an instrumental called "Cryogenics" written especially to feature on the album;[2] it was ultimately dropped as the band felt it wasn't good enough. Although essentially a live record, "Coma Divine" features studio overdubs of the vocals, as the original takes were too poor both in terms of performance and the quality of recording.[3]
Track listing
Original release
All songs written by Steven Wilson unless otherwise noted.
There were various technical problems with the original CD edition due to its extreme length, and later pressings had about two minutes of audience noise removed between tracks to try to solve the problem.[4]
Expanded edition
All songs written by Steven Wilson unless otherwise noted.
Disc One
No.
Title
Writer(s)
Length
1.
"Bornlivedieintro"
1:23
2.
"Signify" (from Signify)
5:52
3.
"Waiting (Phase One)" (from Signify)
4:32
4.
"Waiting (Phase Two)" (from Signify)
5:28
5.
"The Sky Moves Sideways" (from The Sky Moves Sideways)
12:38
6.
"Dislocated Day" (from The Sky Moves Sideways)
6:37
7.
"The Sleep Of No Dreaming" (from Signify)
5:18
8.
"Moonloop" (from The Sky Moves Sideways)
Wilson, Edwards, Edwin, Maitland
11:40
Disc Two
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Up The Downstair" (from Up the Downstair)
7:40
2.
"The Moon Touches Your Shoulder" (from The Sky Moves Sideways)
5:05
3.
"Always Never" (from Up the Downstair)
4:51
4.
"Is...Not" (from The Sky Moves Sideways)
6:09
5.
"Radioactive Toy" (from On the Sunday of Life)
13:32
6.
"Not Beautiful Anymore" (from Up the Downstair)
9:43
Total length:
100:28
Vinyl edition
All songs written by Steven Wilson unless otherwise noted.
Side One
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Bornlivedieintro"
1:25
2.
"Signify" (from Signify)
5:59
3.
"Waiting (Phase One)" (from Signify)
4:26
4.
"Waiting (Phase Two)" (from Signify)
5:23
Side Two
No.
Title
Length
1.
"The Sky Moves Sideways" (from The Sky Moves Sideways)
12:40
2.
"Dislocated Day" (from The Sky Moves Sideways)
6:35
Side Three
No.
Title
Writer(s)
Length
1.
"The Sleep Of No Dreaming" (from Signify)
5:19
2.
"Moonloop" (from The Sky Moves Sideways)
Wilson, Barbieri, Edwin, Harrison
11:50
Side Four
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Up The Downstair" (from Up the Downstair)
7:40
2.
"The Moon Touches Your Shoulder" (from The Sky Moves Sideways)
5:05
3.
"Always Never" (from Up the Downstair)
4:51
Side Five
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Is...Not" (from The Sky Moves Sideways)
6:09
2.
"Radioactive Toy" (from On the Sunday of Life)
13:30
Side Six
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Not Beautiful Anymore" (from Up the Downstair)
9:39
Bonus 7 Inch Single
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Disappear (Demo One)" (Recorded in February 1997)
Metal Hammer - Captured live in Rome, they reinforce both their ability and their charm through the likes of 'Moonloop' and 'The Sky Moves Sideways', lengthy but not overdone pieces, led as ever by Steve Wilson's intriguing vision. Admittedly, it'll make them few friends (live albums never do), but it's essential listening for the faithful.
[5]