SCOVILLE UNIT
In March of 2020, Scoville Unit was riding an unusual high. The down-to-earth east coast band, led by long-time friends (and ex-college roommates) Drew Isleib and Gandhar Savur, had just released their third, self-titled album, and received some unexpected accolades. They were described in the press as “pure pop rock genius”, and “winsome and infectious”; and called “one of the more talented forces working in indie music”; they drew comparisons to legendary bands such as the Replacements, Sugar, the Lemonheads and Guided By Voices along the way, even earning the well deserved “essential new music” tag from NPR Music. The record climbed the charts at many college stations throughout the country. Things were looking good for the band, as people started to notice this hidden gem.
Of course, the album cycle was cut short for obvious reasons - resulting in the cancellation of the remaining shows supporting the release. Unable to rehearse or perform, Isleib, a doctor, braved the storm, donning a white coat and an N-95. Savur, on the other hand, fulfilled a lifelong dream and moved to Costa Rica, where for the next year and a half he admittedly spent the bulk of his existence “surfing…and eating rice and beans.” He didn’t leave the US empty handed though - prior to his departure, the band got together for the first time since the start of the pandemic, and managed to very quickly record the basic tracks for a new album. The whirlwind session, with Isleib manning the boards, captured ten newly written tracks played together for the first time as a band during these sessions. “I honestly wasn’t sure what we’d end up with when we started recording, but when we heard what played back out of the monitors, we knew we were onto something” says Isleib. The songs themselves deal with topics from that lost year, with a few giving descriptive insight into Savur's decision-making process and desire to leave the country. Once the recording session had ended, he took off.
Isleib then spent the next year recording overdubs and engineering the record in his basement studio outside of Philadelphia. Savur recorded his guitars and vocals out of his bedroom closet in his new home overlooking the ocean, just outside Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Their efforts were brilliantly coordinated by mixer and co-producer David Bondy, who also lent his talents on keyboards and arrangements. Bondy proved to be a true kindred spirit for the band, and helped the group of tracks blossom into a cohesive record that transcended the distance between the players.
Heavily influenced by greats such as Big Star and Fleetwood Mac, or the joyous energy of the Clash and Thin Lizzy, “See What Can Be" goes back to their roots as a band, while brimming with a newfound confidence and mastery of their craft. It’s an album of arena-sized rock songs that are still willing to be intimate and personal. There’s tight, crunchy, '60s-influenced pop-rock with big, baited hooks alongside jangling and fuzz-drenched guitars. Imagine Brian Wilson grew up in Asbury Park instead of Malibu. Kevin Shelbourne’s guitar leads are the rare kind that you can actually sing along to, ala J Mascis or Doug Martsch, leaving no doubt that this is a rock band through and through, while Rob Hunsicker’s sturdy drumming guarantees head bobs from start to finish. Through it all, Isleib and Savur’s well-honed vocal trading and harmonizing reaches commanding new heights.
Savur’s lyrical musings on his decision to move to Costa Rica resonate with anybody who has ever decided to leave the grind of a big city to go to the idyllic landscapes of the suburbs, upstate, or out to the country. “In the Shade” details the dichotomy between city life and the bliss that he longs to experience in the alternate reality that he refers to only as “over there.” “Tired of this glove that doesn’t fit me” he explains about his need for a new chapter in life. The uplifting punk-inspired manifesto “Pure Energy” lays out his well thought “new blueprint for our lives”. “You’re Right” is a reflection on the transition, and the consequential separation from the band, reassuring himself matter-of-factly “Now our home feels light years away, but I can fly into Philly, PA.” Costa Rica itself is never specifically mentioned, resulting in lyrical themes that are both personal and relatable.
The album’s production is stunning, in its composed but lush arrangements. "The last record was recorded in a studio in ten days, and we really had no involvement in the recording side of things; we just sang and played our instruments and did as we were told. So on this record, having over ten months to play around with the tracks, it really gave me the ability to go to more interesting places.” says Isleib. “During a weird time when we could barely leave our homes and anxiety was high, it was great to have a project to live in.”
For Savur, the move to Costa Rica eliminated a lot of distractions and provided an opportunity to really focus on the album…and life. Although he was tempted to make his move to Costa Rica a permanent one and struggled with the dilemma during his entire stay, the album itself was largely influential in his final decision. “The day we got the final master back and I heard the finished album – that was the day I decided it was time to move back home,”.
“See What Can Be” is scheduled for release in June of 2023, coinciding with Savur's return to the United States to rejoin his bandmates in support of the album.