Locust, is the musical project of UK multi-artist Mark Van Hoen, who recently released their new album, Spectral+, now out via TODO Records (Porcelain, Annabelle Chairlegs). Mark shares, “This record contains a broad spectrum of songs that are an assimilation of my influences and my own earlier music. It’s contemplative, sometimes melancholy, sometimes abrasive and pastoral.”

This fall, Locust will appear live across major cities in the U.S. and UK to celebrate the release of Spectral+. For more information on upcoming performances.

The album follows a run of singles that previewed its range: the string-laden “White Light,” downbeat “Soul Sky” with Queens rapper Griff Spex, and “Long Distance Lover,” featuring Slowdive‘s Neil Halstead on guitar.

In recent years, the project has cultivated a formidable cult following. The audiences comprise not only those who remember his tours with Autechre and Aphex Twin, but a burgeoning younger generation discovering Locust via the trip-hop revival, social media visibility, and a new wave of cloud rap artists sampling his foundational work.

More from Mark Van Hoen: “Olive Kimoto (vocals, keyboards) instigated all this. I was playing a solo show in September 2024, and she came to that – she had been running a club called Heaven or Los Angeles, a Cocteau Twins reference which I immediately liked. We met, and she said how much she liked my music. She did a two-hour radio special with me on my music, and we decided to collaborate.”

The new Locust played their first show in 2025, the first show back since opening for Massive Attack in the 90s, and since then they have fleshed out new material for a new album, Spectral+, with parts added as developed onstage.

“We’re establishing this identity as a live band – we’ve really bonded, all really good friends, all rooting for it. People can see we’re a tight band, they’re not hired hands.” The band also includes Derek Mabra on guitar and Jaelyn Valero on drums.

Locust
Spectral+
TODO Records
Tracklisting

Shape Of Another (Vocals: Olive Kimoto, Rap: Griff Spex)
Long Distance Lover (Vocals: Natasha Morrow)
All of them (Vocals: Nick Holton)
White Light (Vocals: Olive Kimoto)
Soul Sky (Vocals: Olive Kimoto, Rap: Griff Spex)
No Space For Love (Vocals: Olive Kimoto)
Love Stays (Vocals: Omotola) – WATCH
Face It! (Vocals: Natalie Foucauld)
Going Nowhere (Vocals: Olive Kimoto)
Midori/Falls Away From Me (Vocals: Natasha Morrow)

Locust 2026 Tour Dates

9/11 – 2220 Arts + Archives – Los Angeles, CA
9/14 – Elsewhere (Rooftop) – Brooklyn, NY
9/24 – Moth Club – London, UK
9/26 – The Glad Cafe – Glasgow, UK

order Spectral+ by Locust HERE