BETWEEN 1969 and 1983, when Karen Carpenter died aged just 32, The Carpenters successfully toured the world and produced more than a dozen original best-selling albums.

Their songs always featured intelligent lyrics, gorgeous harmonies, Richard Carpenter’s subtle arrangements, and the irresistibly warm and rich voice of his sister Karen.

This outstanding tribute show conveys their unique sound, and it’s all live with no miming or pre-recorded backing tracks.

The flawless band is from Dublin and features guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, sax, flute, trumpet, flugelhorn plus two smooth backing girl vocalists.

As Karen Carpenter, Toni Lee looks and sounds uncannily like the American songbird, delivering the challenging material – the long lyric lines and those tricky low notes – with a clear and heartfelt love of the Carpenters songs.

Particularly effective were the overhead projections, especially featuring childhood photos of the duo behind the powerfully nostalgic Yesterday Once More and interviews with family friends regarding Karen’s illnesses – anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

Her short-lived and sad marriage was reinforced by her favourite song – the aching I Know I Need To Be In Love – and the bittersweet Rainy Days And Mondays and Goodbye To Love.

The fantastic finale featured the bouncy Top Of The World, the moving Solitaire, the yearning Desperado, and the Carpenters’ symphonic anthem, Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft.

This wonderful show plays Ventnor Winter Gardens on the Isle of Wight on Saturday, May 16.