Mystic Echo – Distant Shores (Digital/Vinyl Album – Mystic Echo)

Mystic Echo is a Belgian project that was previously unknown to me, founded by Ignace De Lamper. Two earlier singles can be found online, but they both date back to 2021. This debut album features eight tracks, including what can be considered an intro and an outro.
The influences of multi-instrumentalist Ignace De Lamper are diverse, yet they can primarily be traced back to the magical music of the 1980s, particularly New-Wave and Dark-Wave. The guitar creates a dark and immersive atmosphere, while the synths add an ethereal quality, making the songs more melodic and melancholic. At times, the music evokes an imaginary fusion of early Simple Minds and The Mission. The album contains several strong tracks, but “Silent Nothingness” rises well above the rest. The song stands out thanks to the uplifting guitar work, which perfectly complements the excellent vocal performance.
Mystic Echo is a beautiful and promising discovery that certainly deserves to be followed closely in the future. (Rating:8).
Listen to “Silent Nothingsness”:
About Mystic Echo
Mystic Echo is a solo project from Belgium built around multi-instrumentalist Ignace De Lamper, who handles composition, production, vocals, electric and lap steel guitar, bass, and synthesizers. The music draws on 1980s new wave and dark wave.
The debut album “Distant Shores” was released on 17 April 2026 and collects eight tracks: “Slowly”, “Born to Feel”, “Haunting in my Head”, “Heartgazer”, “Silent Nothingness”, “Mortal Edge”, “Home”, and the title track. On the record, Dominiek Van Duysen plays drums and Laurens Grossen handled the mastering. “Distant Shores” was also issued as a limited 12-inch vinyl edition of 300 copies.

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.
