The Carpenters

The Carpenters were one of the more ubiquitous and successful acts of the early and mid-'70s. This 1975 effort seems to be willing to explore sad emotions -- with the more blithe songs appearing almost as an afterthought -- which is actually a nice fit for Karen Carpenter's pitch-perfect and sorrowful voice, and emphasizes the duo's subtext. The beautifully arranged "Aurora" sets the album's ambience. "Eventide," a continuation of the melody and theme, shows up later in the album. The covers, "Desperado" and "Please Mr. Postman," have the duo adding nothing new to the tracks. A more convincing take on the standard "I Can Dream, Can't I?" was co-arranged and orchestrated by the legendary Billy May. The track has Carpenter's empathy and tone ringing clear. Another cover, "Solitaire" written by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody, is melodramatic but a great match for Carpenter's voice. The originals, including "(I'm Caught Between) Goodbye and I Love You," are competent but not magical. Although some might be put off by the sorrow-or-bust ethos of this, Horizon gains its strength from strong production values and, of course, Karen Carpenter's singular gifts as an interpreter. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide