"Filtered Lounge" is a title that promises a chic, laid-back escape into beats and sun-kissed vibes. But is it really a sun-drenched musical getaway, or more of a layover in the "Airport Lounge of Chillout Clichés"? Let’s dive in, because Developingrhythm (aka Johnny Knight) has given us a sonic snapshot of his DJ past, one foot in the balearic sand and the other still dusted with the grime of London’s club scene.

We begin our journey with “Warm Sun Face”, a track that feels like it’s trying very hard to live up to its name. It’s the audio equivalent of a late afternoon at Café del Mar - there’s a breeze, sure, but it’s the kind that reminds you the golden age of Balearic beats is already two decades behind us. With its hip hop-tinged broken beats and warm pads, the track does evoke a sense of nostalgia, but it also feels like it’s leaning a little too hard on the tropes of chillout compilations past. You almost expect a Buddha Bar logo to fade in slowly from the corner. But let’s be fair - there’s nothing wrong with comfort, and sometimes the familiar is exactly what you need when your serotonin levels are as low as your blood sugar after a night out.

Then comes “10 Lines”, which throws a jazzy curveball into the mix. You can almost see Developingrhythm digging through his old Mo’ Wax records, dusting off the turntable and hitting play on some obscure 90s trip-hop vinyl. It’s a groovy number, with enough syncopation to keep your head bobbing while sipping something strong and overpriced. The jazz elements do add some texture, but it’s more like a sepia filter than a full-blown transformation. Think of it as the middle child of the EP: clever, a little moody, but not quite the star of the show.

“Close It”, though, is where things take an unexpected turn. Suddenly, we’re in pop territory, complete with breathy vocals courtesy of Candy (whose name couldn’t be more apt for the soft, saccharine delivery). There’s a Balearic guitar that feels almost "too" on-the-nose - so much so that you start picturing Ibiza postcards in your head. It's pleasant enough, but it’s also hard to shake the feeling that this track wandered in from the wrong decade. You can almost hear the echoes of Zero 7 and Air, bands that defined the 2000s downtempo scene, and though the sentimentality is nice, it leaves you wanting something fresher, less derivative. The track has all the trimmings, but is it memorable? Not quite.

Finally, “Flowing Stateness” brings the EP to a close with a dubby, playful vibe that stands out as the most intriguing of the bunch. Here, Johnny Knight seems to let go of the need to impress and simply lets the music flow. The track evolves organically, with light touches of delay and reverb that pull you deeper into a sense of space and tranquillity. It’s less about past glories and more about letting the music breathe in its own right. There’s a sense of relief as the EP winds down - it’s like the last stretch of a chillout session after a long, overstimulating night. The kind where you’re finally alone with your thoughts, and the sound of the waves is louder than the music.

But here’s the thing: "Filtered Lounge" feels like it’s trying to be two things at once. On the one hand, it’s nostalgic for the golden era of downtempo, Balearic, and broken beats - undoubtedly a callback to Johnny’s DJ days in Ibiza and London. On the other hand, it’s also trying to be fresh and relevant in a world that’s long since moved on from those genres. It’s hard not to wonder if the EP would have benefited from a bit more risk-taking, a bit less reverence for the past. There are echoes of John Digweed, Café del Mar, and the Mo’ Wax era, but they linger in the air like a perfume that’s faded just a bit too much.

Is it a bad EP? Absolutely not. In fact, for anyone craving a throwback to the chillout rooms of the early 2000s, "Filtered Lounge" is like finding an old mixtape under your bed - dusty, but still capable of evoking memories of sun-drenched afternoons and hazy comedowns. But for those looking for innovation, or something that pushes beyond the predictable, this might feel more like a pleasant detour than a destination.

In short, "Filtered Lounge" is as smooth as it is safe. It’s an enjoyable, if somewhat formulaic, stroll through the well-worn paths of Balearic chillout and jazzy broken beats. Developingrhythm shows he has the chops, but perhaps he’s still holding back a bit too much. Maybe on the next release, he’ll turn up the heat and take a few more chances. Until then, grab a mojito, find a sunset, and let these sounds wash over you - just don’t expect any surprises.