Milanese - Lockout

Review by Charles Lim

Lockout by Milanese: A Sonic Maze That Won’t Let You Go Let’s get one thing straight—Milanese’s Lockout isn’t your average album. Released in 2009 on Planet Mu, this UK-born masterpiece is a wild ride through genres and styles that feel like they’re arguing with each other but somehow make perfect sense. It’s electronic, it’s hip-hop, it’s breaks, jungle, grime, dubstep… hell, even abstract garage sneaks its way in there. And yeah, it’s messy as all hell—but damn if it doesn’t grab you by the ears. The first time I heard “Fun with Robots,” I wasn’t ready for what hit me. The track starts off quirky, almost playful, like some alien robot decided to throw a rave in your brain. But then BAM—it flips into this chaotic breakbeat frenzy that feels both futuristic and dirty, like someone spilled oil on a motherboard. There’s something about how Milanese layers those stuttering beats with these weird little glitches that sticks with me. It’s not just music; it’s more like an experience. Like when you trip over nothing and suddenly realize life’s absurdity? Yeah, kind of like that. Then there’s “B Sharpa.” Oh man, Ben Sharpa absolutely kills it here. His flow hits hard, sharp, and conscious, riding Milanese’s production like he was born to do it. The beat itself is gnarly—a mix of grimey basslines and chopped-up drums that sound like they were scavenged from a scrapyard. Every time I hear his voice spit truth over those jagged rhythms, I’m reminded why I fell in love with underground hip-hop in the first place. It’s raw, unfiltered, and real. No polish, no gimmicks—just pure energy. What really gets me, though, is how Milanese wears so many hats on this project. He wrote most of the tracks, produced them, remixed half of ‘em, designed the artwork, AND mastered the whole thing? Dude didn’t sleep for months, did he? You can tell everything comes straight from his head without compromise. Even Krijn Van Noordwijk’s photography adds this gritty, urban vibe that matches the chaos of the music perfectly. But honestly, what makes Lockout unforgettable isn’t just the technical wizardry or genre-hopping—it’s the emotion behind it. Tracks like “Wonderful World” hit differently because they’re not trying to be polished or perfect. They’re rough around the edges, kinda like us humans. When Milanese lets loose with his remixes (like the Untold Remix of “The End”), it’s like watching someone tear apart a clock just to see how it ticks. Messy, sure, but beautiful in its own weird way. Here’s the kicker: listening to Lockout feels less like enjoying an album and more like wandering through someone’s mind during a fever dream. Some parts are confusing, others exhilarating, and a few downright disorienting—but you wouldn’t want it any other way. By the end, you’re left wondering: Did Milanese create this album… or did it create him? So yeah, give Lockout a spin. Just don’t expect answers. Expect questions. Lots of ‘em.

Artist: Milanese
Album: Lockout

2009

Rating: 4.17

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Download

Filename: milanese-lockout.zip

MP3 size: 94 mb
FLAC size: 760 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Take This Love (Milanese Remix)	3:49
B Sharpa (Reload Mix)
The End
Baby Blue	04:32
Unique 3-Take This Love	03:49
Disclosure	4:03
Shake Wut Ya Mama Gave Ya (Milanese Remix)	5:36
Disclosure (Instrumental)	4:51
Shake Wut Ya Mama Gave Ya	05:36
B Sharpa	3:04
Baby Blue Remix
The End [off Mix]	04:35
Wonderful World
Fun with Robots	00:55
The End (Off Mix)	4:35
Baby Blue (Remix)	4:32
Fun With Robots	0:55
The End (Untold Remix)
Baby Blue (Milanese Remix)
The End [Untold Remix]	04:45

Video

Milanese - The End

Images

Catalog Numbers

ZIQ243
ZIQ243CD

Labels

Planet Mu

Listen online

écouter en ligne
kuunnella verkossa
ouvir online
online anhören
lytte på nettet
ascolta in linea
escuchar en línea
online luisteren
lyssna på nätet

Formats

2 × Vinyl
12"
Test Pressing
CD
Album
CDr
Promo
with 2 sides of parallel grooves

Credits

Role	Credit
Mastered By	Frederic (tracks: A1, C2), Jason (tracks: B1, D1, D2)
Recorded By	Dplanet
Remix	Milanese (tracks: D1), Untold (tracks: B1)
Vocals	Ben Sharpa (tracks: C1, D2)
Design	Milanese
Photography By	Krijn Van Noordwijk
Written-By	Milanese (tracks: 2 to 5, 7 to 10, 12)
Producer	Milanese (tracks: 2 to 5, 7 to 10, 12)
Featuring	Ben Sharpa (tracks: 2, 4. 7, 9)
Other	Krijn Van Noordwijk

Notes

Track 2, 4, 7 and 9 vocals recorded at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town.
Track 6 published by Funk Lab Publishing.
Tracks 2 to 5, 7 to 9, 11, 12 written and produced at Iacon Studios.
(P)2009 Planet Mu Records Ltd. (C)2009 Planet Mu Records Ltd.
Made in the EU.
Love & thanks to Lou. Jack. Juan. Matt. Ben. Damian. Paul "Phil Mitchell" Fowler. Miro. Frederic at Dubplates & Mastering for saving the vinyl. RQM. Cee & Oliver. Spewis. Mike P and Tom at Planet Mu. Erotic Clockwork & Team Rape Alarm. Sean. Tom. Josh. Bazzle "Boxcutter" Dazzle. Tom P at Bleep. Theo. James. Phil & all at Warp. Derek Combat. Krijn & Alex.
Issued in a standard jewel case with four page booklet (inner two pages are plain brown).
Booklet states track 10 is written & produced by Booty Cologne & remixed by Milanese, this is incorrect, it is in fact track 11, corrected credits for track 11 are given not those found on the release.
There are two A1 tracks and two C1 tracks cut in parallel grooves so you randomly get one track or the other when you put the needle on the record

Barcodes

Barcode: 600116824325
Barcode: 600116824318

About Milanese

"Bass Music" producer from London, UK.

Real Name

Steve Whetman

Name Vars

Steve Milanese

Aliases

Steve Whetman

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that the album *Lockout* by Milanese is a wild mix of genres and styles, all crafted almost entirely by one person? Released in 2009 on the UK label Planet Mu, Milanese not only produced, wrote, and remixed most of the tracks but also handled the mastering and design. It’s like a one-person creative powerhouse. The album blends everything from Drum'n'Bass to Grime, with standout collaborations like Ben Sharpa’s vocals adding extra depth. Plus, it even features photography by Krijn Van Noordwijk, tying the whole project together with a personal touch.