Daniel Szwed – Standard Cap (Digital/CD Album – Rope Worm)
Polish artist Daniel Szwed originally released “Standard Cap” in 2024 as a cassette on Hiss Collective. The work remained under the radar for many listeners but is now being given a new opportunity through this CD format, marking the artist’s second opus to be released by Rope Worm.
Daniel Szwed takes us into a sonic universe where he freely experiments with repetitive noise loops and a wide range of distorted sounds. It often feels like improvisation, yet the overall result remains coherent. What I find particularly compelling about this work is that the Noise elements never descend into a mere wall of sound. This is not chaos, but a carefully constructed composition in which the different elements can be clearly distinguished. For instance, distant screaming voices echo through the mix, enhancing a sense of terror, while other passages are built around explicit Industrial influences.
Reissuing this album on CD is, in my view, a very successful decision, and I am convinced that “Standard Cap” will now reach new listeners in search of something truly unconventional. (Rating:8).
Listen to “Standard Cap 5”:
https://ropeworm.bandcamp.com/track/standard-cap-5
I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
The donations are safely powered by Paypal.
