NYC’s 79.5 will release their self-titled sophomore album this Friday May 5 on Razor-N-Tape. The summer-ready album has earned support spanning several media outlets and more. Fearless and confident, the masterful melodies are immersed in the heady glow of 1970s disco and the white-hot electro of the Midwest, topped with the melodic gorgeousness of 1980s R&B. 

Pulsing and shimmering like a dusky take on Tame Impala’s psych-funk odysseys, the band is thrilled to share the final album preview track “Long Term Parking.” Sopranos fans might recognize the title’s nod to a pivotal episode from the classic show! Singer, songwriter and composer Kate Mattison shares, “‘Long Term Parking” portrays the palpable feeling of being in a relationship that is so powerful and complicated, that even with a tragic ending, the love forever remains. The lyric throughout, “I would’ve loved you anyway,” is bravery through devastation.”

Named after an imaginary radio station, 79.5 was started in 2010 by Kate Mattison. Joined by singer and rapper Lola Adanna + sax player/flautist Izaak Mills and with drummer Caito Sanchez (Charles Bradley, Lee Fields) and bassist Andrew Raposo (Midnight Magic, Hess Is More) rounding out the rhythm section, the sound of 79.5 is full-bodied and straight from the heart—recalling the thrilling work of Patrice Rushen as well as the type of dance music that’s been the beating heart of New York City for eons. With only a self released 12” in circulation, 79.5 was written up in The New Yorker twice based on the eminence of their live sets alone. In 2016, the band  released the now classic 45, “Terrorize My Heart (Disco Dub)” a staple in DJ sets, getting spins from Gilles Peterson, Q-Tip, Just Blaze and Natasha Diggs. In February 2021, Questlove added the Mattison-penned track to his 100 Essential Songs You Should Know playlist, which includes legendary musicians Sade, CHIC, Patrice Rushen, and Prince.

Photo Courtesy: Greg Manis