Porcupine Tree - Coma Divine

I bought this last weekend, my first PT purchase, after I finally found some PT at a reasonable price (It was £11.99 from Reveal in Derby).

I've only listened once so far (last night) and I've got to say it's bloody brilliant.

I had feared it might be a bit self indulgent (aka Live Dead) but no, all fairly focused songs with plenty of Guitar wigouts, excellent

J.N., Greeny,

Try the freak emporium for other reasonably priced PT, last time I looked they were selling off some of the old Delerium stock fairly cheaply (e.g Signify expanded edition 2CDs for £10 + p&p). They are gradually being re-packaged, re-mixed and re-released by Snapper, hence the clear out of the old stock.

I've yet to find a duff PT album. I've not got them all yet, I have the following ...

• On the Sunday of Life... Steven Wilson's first release now re-packaged. A bit patchy but excellent in places
  
• Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape From the same era as above, again patchy but excellent in places
  
• Stars Die A compilation containing some tracks from the other delerium releases and some good rarities
  
• Signify Superb studio album, Coma Divine was recorded on the corresponding tour.
  
• Sky Moves Sideways Prog rock at its best, already re-issued as a double CD, recommended
  
• Coma Divine Excellent Live album, but then you knew that anyway
  
• Recordings Limited edition CD comprising various odds and sods but finds PT in particularly melodic form
  
• Metanoia Improvisations from the Signify sessions, not so keen on this one but I know that Nick Lees is.
  
• In Absentia The most recent PT album, very heavy in places
  
• Warszawa Another live album, recorded for a radio broadcast in Poland
  

and in the post next week Voyage 34

Thanks Seagull.

Yes I've had PT on my list for a while (>1year) and (along with many other things on my list) I always check them out especially when I go into a new or seldom visited record shop. I have typically found that if the shops have any at all they are usually £14-£16 for the single albums, so I was more than happy to find the double Coma Divine for £11.99. In fact even online I have seldom seen anything less than this sort of price, and the ones I have seen tended not to be the ones I fancied as a first purchase (Coma Divine, Signify, Sky Moves..).

Anyway hopefully my next PT purchase will not take as long, my eyes are peeled.

I would also add Voyage 34 (Parts 1&2): Floydesque LSD inspired nonsense, and, unlike many big fans, I have no problem with the later offerings like Stupid Dream and Lightbulb Sun. Nonetheless, if you're only going to buy one PT album it would have to be Signify (the studio version) or Coma Divine (the live version).

BTW If you add my list to Seagull's you're not far short of a full set.

I am also missing Up The Downstair, I'm waiting for the remixed re-issue, due out early next year as is the new album...

Not heard either Lightbulb Sun or Stupid Dream but based on the songs on Warszawa I guess I would like them (if not as much as Signify or Sky Moves Sideways)

BTW Seagull, I still remember the very gloomy faces of the whole entourage as I treated you all to something off Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape.

Alex,

Can't have been THAT gloomy. I recall that Nick rather liked it and Malcolm actually bought the other copy that I found on an obscure German web-site.

They were quite possibly the last two brand new copies left.

I am trying to spread the word. Malcolm has been converted and I always sneak some PT in when we have a musical soiree. It was no coincidence that I just happened to have Signify on my person when we visited Audio-T last night.

Keep up the good work. Nick rather likes anything as long as its not jazz and then he rather hates it, especially if DHM chose it.

Having experienced some of DHM's choices I can only agree with him