Reviews of The Sister:-

Noizz Webzine

Astonishing. An awesome work! It's difficult to classify, but
to give you an idea this can be described as a dark and frightening
soundtrack, doom minimalist, experimental goth and athmospheric,... in
which what prevail are the slow and hypnotics rhythms. This is the most
interesting record I have heard lately, as it just steps out of the
routine of dark music. It also must be said that it just sounds great
and that each of the 5 tracks maintain quality and originality.Well,
actually they are 6 tracks, including the a very short intro which
title is masked by stains on the credits. Meanwhile the booklet and the
cover gives a feeling that this the work of some extreme
(experimental) musician specially because of the font. But you couldn't
farther from the truth. It's a disturbing music close to terrifying
without using the instrumental agressivity to obtain this result. It
doesn't need to. If you fancy discovering something new and interesting
do not miss this album, it's a little jewel.

Heathen Harvest Magazine

One of the most bizarre releases that I have laid my eyes on to date. The Sister more
or less paints a picture of a multi-talented musician on one hell of a dosage of
either shrooms or LSD. The Squid Boy, for instance, shows the untimely death
and suffering of a young human-squid hybrid who not only feels unloved but is
dieing because the lack of our medical capacities in this day and age.
The most memorable track on this album is "There's an Earl on Mars", which while
incredibly beautifully written musically and completely depressing, is about as
off the wall as its following track, "Sssix Foot Albino Penguins". Each of these
stories seems to have a moral, or tell a familiar story, however they are told
in the most seemingly drug-induced ways possible.
I honestly found The Sister to be a highly enjoyable experience. While one
could easily just pop in the album and get confused and quit half way through,
it causes one to think if you actually bother to read the lyrics.This is really one of those
"acquired tastes", but fans of drug-induced weird music should find this either
incredibly funny and bizarre, or unique and intelligent.

Tinitus Magazine

Wow, this EP was a bit of a neat surprise. What from the artwork looks like a
Scandinavian Black Metal import turns out to be a pretty crazy sounding horror soundtrack.
OK, let's start from the beginning: Onethirtyeight are from London and do
playful yet dark music, mainly with synths and piano tracks and the odd bits of
acoustic guitars. It's reminiscent of a macabre and fucked up scenario
of one of Tim Burton's better films, really. As a matter of fact, the guys from
Onethirtyeight should start composing film-scores professionally because their 5
sound-scapes are in bits so full of bizarre ideas that Danny Elfman wouldn't
dare to come up with, not even in his worst nightmares. You can literally hear
dry ice wreaking around cardboard gravestones. 'The Waldensian' reminds of the
synth sounds of Goblin's Suspiria & Co. Add to that the strangely altered sounds of
singing children & 'SSSix Foot Albino Penguins' excitingly send shivers down your spine. The highlight though must be 'The Sister', a song with a very familiar sounding
theme. It's the only song that contains actual singing or rather ghostly
whimpers, well played piano parts and static noises. I'd describe the music of
Onethirtyeight as arty goth music although not in the sense of Fields Of The
Nephilim or Lacrimosa but more in the style of an old gothic novel, classy &
dark.

Fake Jazz webzine:

The third release from London solo artist Onethirtyeight combines eerie,
atmospheric ambience with percussive guitar riffs and chilling piano voicings.
Coming in at just over 25 minutes, The Sister still feels relatively short -
even for an EP. Yet with just four full-length compositions, the epic songs are
all individually satisfying. The songs are almost categorically instrumental
compositions, with vocals being added for effect. The notable exception is "The
Squid Boy," which reveals a story detailing the limitations of modern technology
with regards to those who are marginalized. The biting, sporadic acoustic guitar
riffs would almost certainly be the most memorable part of the song if not for
the vocal oddities of the track. Beginning as a deep, narrative growl, the voice
soon becomes that of what is assumed to be the 'Squid Boy,' employing a
pitch-shifted vocal effect giving a sound reminiscent of an infant. The
organ-driven "Waldensian" takes a similar turn, using the cries of a baby to
coincide with an unsettling progression. The closer "Alexandra Elsbeth
(1864-1932)," a touching instrumental eulogy, employs a lead voice that is
comparable to a combination of a muted horn and a talkbox-affected vocal line.
While, for the most part, The Sister is more atmospheric than melodic, the
ominous mood of the album will continue to fascinate through multiple listens

Gothtronic webzine, 7/10:

This isn’t a deathmetal or –rock release: this is well-done, experimental music. All the six tracks on the EP “The Sister” are well performed and if one is looking for some kind of
reference, I would call this project the little retarded brother of acts like
Dresden Dolls, Cocorosie or Bellmer Dolls. But one can also hear influences by
Mr. Bungle, the weird project of Mike Patton.
After abusing some kind of xylophone for half a minute – on the album sleeve
presented as a lot of scrambling – ‘The Squid Boy’ sets in. This is a nicely,
freaky song that could be defined as somewhat folky, due to the use of the
acoustic guitar and the dark drum sounds. With church organs the following
‘Waldensian’ is introduced. This is a spherical track that really gets under
your skin. The sleeve text: ‘The Witches’ Disease: God grant this may not harm
you or cast an evil spell’ contributes to this creepy feeling. The horror theme
is pushed somewhat further in ‘There’s An Earl On Mars’. Alien sounds and
vibrato’s accompany the subtle piano playing.‘Sssix Foot Albino Penguins’ could have been a track by Mr. Bungle, with the funny bass and the old-man-voices. The last seven minutes of “The Sister”are reserved for ‘Alexandra Elsbeth (1864-1932)’. This track also has a folky mood, which ends in a dark ambient piece.
If you’re in for a funny, experimental EP and you are familiar and found of the
stated references, than you should definitely try Onethiryeight!

X-Ray Magazine:

Strange is a good word to describe the work of solo artist Dan133 but good as well needs to be mentioned.The man has a cool / dreamy / nightmarish sound and a soundtrack feel in his writing which got him to work with the indie movie industry. By using acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, electronic sounds, samplings and some crazy vocals, Dan has created his own darkened universe but this doesn't mean the songs are
not melodic for it; even a sense of weirdness is omnipresent. My favorite tracks
are : The Squid Boy (acoustic guitars, crazy voice & unusual composition),
There's an Earl on Mars (piano, strange keys, spaced out & psychedelic ) and the
closer Alexandra Elsbeth (1864-1932) being one of the most experimental moments
made of sad vocals and acoustic guitar parts.
8 / 10

Reviews of Bring Out Your Living:-

Terroriser: #123

The premise of Onethirtyeight appears to be to evoke imagery in the mind of the listener, this three track EP being a collection of ethereal samples and textured musical movements that would be better suited to the soundtrack of a movie than to an extreme release. However, there's no denying that project mastermind Dan 138's abilities in creating an uncomfortable mood, the title track an especially warped piece of groaning and whispering that conjures up graphic images of plague-era London. Stuff to scare you mother with. (6) LG

Rue Morgue: Halloween Special 2004

With ten minutes of soft piano, acoustic guitar and mechanical noise, London's Onethirtyeight offer evil ambience in the context of a soundtrack. Hungry zombies surround the title track, while The Crooked Song carries an eerie echo reminiscent of Chris Alexander's Blood of Django project and the final cut (Ourang-Outang) features a man making monkey noises. Soft and sedate, the three sequences on Bring Out Your Living don't really amount to much on their own, but if you're into arbitary sounds of surrealist horror you can lock yourself away at www.onethirtyeight.co.uk

Meltdown - Issue 17 Spring 2004:

Horror sound effects & fuzzed up guitars make up the core of this three-track release. Onethirtyeight is more of an experimental project than something you would be likely to hear on a dancefloor.
The title track is very much the type of thing you might hear on a horror film with its whistling winds and droning vocals. 'The Crooked Song' relies on sparse acoustic guitars and, pianos & haunting female vocals with background sobs. Given it's simplicity it works a lot better as a disturbing piece of music. The final track is a lighter affair that reminds me a little of the Tiger Lillies with its erratic, slightly whimsical guitars and keyboards. However, instead of the Lillies' falsetto lyrics, it has choral harmonies and monkey noises!
This is a bizarre CD, it's refreshing to hear someone making the music they want without worrying whether it will be a dancefloor smash.
Natasha Scharf, 3 Skulls

Nude Magazine - Issue 4 Sept/Oct 2004:

A spooky EP which comes wrapped in a cobweb and sounds like a compilation of horror soundtracks. The title track is all scary noises and chants of 'Bring out your relatives… your children… your lovers'. 'Crooked Song' features a creepy whispered vocal, a la Goblin's Suspiria soundtrack and 'Ourang-Outang' is a sinister 'Wicker Man' -style folk song. Should do well with the Goth market (the purple and black pound, if you will).

Metal Maniacs - Vol. 21, No. 9, Nov 2004:

Here we have another instalment from London's one-man-band Onethirtyeight. I reviewed the last one about a year ago & it was not what I'd expected at all (Misfits worship), so this time I had a grasp on where Mr Dan 138 is going. Along with the cobwebs, I could easily utilise this next time I deck a place pout for some kind of haunted house Halloween Party, or just feel like being creepy. Like the last EP, this is a short three-song demo, undoubtedly inspired by horror soundtracks, and easily usable as such. Dark acoustic guitar tones, haunting background voacl chants, zombies running rampant, light percussion used as sparingly as possible and bone-chilling bass sluggishly sodomise each other in a minimalist fashion, and leave you hiding in a dark corner in just a few minutes.

Metal Warrants Review - Nov 2004:

Recorded, written and performed by Dan138, this is an interesting ten minute voyage into the darkest depths. The three tracks here are that of a horror movie sound track. Maybe more of a morbid radio show. Very cool. Dark and creepy to say the least. If your into something a little off the beaten path, check out One Thirty Eight. A soundscape into the gloomy unknown. This guy needs to be scoring some flicks.

Urotsukidoji's Pad:

What we have here is not Goth, or Metal, or even Punk, but something that might appeal to the fringes of all those scenes. This disc contains three, horror-themed soundscapes, it's like a movie score to some forgotten 70s horror flick. The first cut, which is the title track, is my favorite, which has the walking dead calling for you to bring them the living. This creepy little cut will probably make it to my personal Halloween disc that I make each year. It's all very dark, and atmospheric in a subtle kind of way.
Very interesting stuff, if you need something for you next Halloween party, or have a horror film to score, you should check this out! It even comes encased in fake cobwebs! Nice touch! Too bad you have to remove them to get to the disc inside! 8/10

Neon Promotions:

Opening with the creepy "Bring out your living" this trilogy of soundtracks paints a vivid picture in the minds eye - this is straight out of a Hammer Horror flick - complete with moaning and wailing. "Crooked song" does actually employ the use of music, but is still 100% soundtrack - here the ghoulish proceedings are surely well under way... "Ourang Outang" brings the grisly journey to a close. Definitely not appearing at a venue near you but maybe at your local multiplex!

Reviews of Case #6:

Terrorizer: #104 
'I couldn't help thinking about Alain Resnais's 'L'Annee Derniere a Marienbad' while listening to the first 'track'. Man spots woman in a bar, then approaches to chat her up. Except here it's a bit of a Dahmer-esque, twisty turn. Three short pieces in this demo, all of which are very cinematic, thematically scene-fitting - such as the rather appropriate test-tube-on-Bunsen-burner, bubble-infused Laboratory Scene of 'Dr Sepis Cleaver', a sort of cross between Bjork and Danny Elfman. This guy genuinely belongs in movie scoring. He should be Hans Zimmer's assistant by now. 8/10'

Total Rock - Lina Hakansson
'It's always refreshing to hear something different'

Alex Chandon - Director, 'Cradle of Fear'
'Very interesting and nicely dark, your style is up my street!'

Meltdown Magazine
‘It’s dark, it’s creepy and it’s very, very avant garde.This is a fascinating little demo of dark experimental soundscapes, for want of a classification. This isn’t ambient as such, but 138 use different sounds, instrumental elements and samples to build up three short tracks of evocative aural montages. Where they go next is anybody’s guess!’ Amplifythis.co.uk
'There comes a point when listening to 138 that you begin to question your own sanity. For me it was the opening track ''Some Kinda Love' where a man is heard saying 'No, don't worry, I won't fucking hurt you' amid a party background and some beautiful but sick electronica is stirring in my ears.
Yes, it was at that point that I realised I was listening to the soundtrack of one of my on nightmares, which is a neat trick that 138 manage to pull off twice more in the following tracks.
The sweetly titled 'Dr Sepis Cleaver' doesn't last much more than a minute, yet still has you reaching for the light switch, and the fantastic 'Artaud's Ballet' sounds like the sort of music a serial killer would play to you, just to really screw with your brain, before beating you to death with your own plunger.

138 are electronica music. Not the sort you can dance to, not the sort you can play at 8,000 decibels down the M5. No, 138 specialise in 'sicktronica' which is a genre I just made up. Now when you have make up genres to make a band fit, your surely onto a good thing.
A reference? Think Aphex Twin at his most wonderfully retarded, think Autchere doing the soundtrack to a hammer horror film.
To be honest both those comparisons don't do 138 justice, this is the sort of music that will REALLY scare your parents and have them calling the men in white coats. Isn't that what rock n' roll is all about?
Some people think that the likes of Slipknot are making menacing music by banging the same tune out time and time again while screaming about nothing in particular, whereas 138 have gone the subtle way. They have gone round the back door and are now quietly sneaking up your stairs with a sharpened knife and a blunt hammer.
By the way, that's an endorsement - this is one of the most innovative, haunting, and downright sickest pieces of music I've heard in years. If you are a fan of electronica at it's weirdest and wonderful, this is for you.'

Ultimatemetal.co.uk
'One Thirty Eight is a solo project paying homage to generations of B-list horror movies through samples, sound effects, and a backing score. Latest release, Case#6, comes wonderfully packaged in a labeled evidence bag, along with bloodstained press release and well-presented CD.

The demo itself, while short, follows a classic horror plot – track one “Some Kinda Love” charts the seduction, a one-sided conversation. The backing music is fitting - slightly jerky, discordant guitar and plodding bass under the sounds of an every-day bar. Recording two, titled “Dr. Sepis Cleaver” follows the preparation with laboratory sounds, a haunting child-like music box and eerie wailing behind, while the finale, “Artaud’s Ballet” is distinctly harsher with white noise, disjointed guitars and distorted vox – an apt conclusion.

As the press release states, “these tracks are not meant to be formal songs - they were designed to try to create a picture in the listener’s mind”, a goal which Dan, the man behind One Thirty Eight, has achieved to perfection. These three short recordings not only create great atmosphere, they manage to capture perfectly the kitsch fun of a low budget horror movie. After listening to Case#6, it seems no surprise that Dan is working on scores for two films; it is an accomplished and well written demo – my only complaint is that it should be longer!'
Neon Promotions
'This is a very strange and intriguing affair - firstly, there are three tracks on here but they are not songs - rather musical soundscapes that are designed to aid the listener in picturing the story that is told - the story of a serial killer. Beginning with the listener overhearing some conversation, things quickly move on to a more gruesome affair. It is uncanny how a bubbling noise makes one think of dismembered body parts, boiling away on the stove in someone's seedy bed sit. We found this genuinely disturbing.'

Maximum Rock n' Roll #204
'138 is ethereal, more like soundtrack music than a band you'd go out to see. I like the layered music and collage stuff that's going on..'