King Krule: a family tree playlist

Today we explore the world of King Krule - from his influence on youth style and uniquely eclectic sound to his mythical south London.

The Lyre bird is said to have the most complex and rarest call in the world. The uniqueness of its birdsong comes not only from its variety of notes, but how it subtly references tones from its forest surroundings. You could say that King Krule is the Lyre of music — there is no sound in the world like his, which jumps fluidly from punk to jazz, to new-wave, hip-hop, dark country and hypnagogic pop. Pouring through his eclectic and vibrant songs, it’s no huge surprise to hear, then, that the south London icon comes from musical heritage.

It’s not your average middle class upbringing though — mum occasionally dabbling on the flute, dad on “Kumbaya” guitar duties at Christimas. No, Marshall hails from a scattering of cultish punk rockers and underground ska players (recently, taking over Beats 1’s radio show, Marshall dropped a track called “Fraternize” by his mum’s ex band Uh Oh Chongo). Here, we assemble a playlist of songs plucked straight from Marshall’s family tree.

THE RUTS – ‘BABYLON BURNING’

Archy Marshall’s godfather David Ruffy was the drummer of The Ruts, a reggae-influenced, anti-racist punk rock band formed in London in the late 70s. Listen to the jagged-edged punk guitars on jumpy and incendiary “Babylon Burning”, followed by Krule’s OOZ track “Half Man Half Shark”, and spot the influence.

JOSEF K – ‘REVELATION’

...Ruffy also played drums for Josef K, a jangle-punk act from Scotland. Fun fact: Ruffy’s drums were sampled in t.A.T.u’s 90s hit “All The Things She Said”.

TOP CATS - ‘TEAR THE PLACE DOWN’

Archy Marshall’s uncle was a longtime guitarist of the cultish ska band Top Cats, whose deep and dubby bass notes recall the dark throb of “Dum Surfer”. You know those oversized suits Marshall dons occasionaly? One of them was orginally his uncle’s, who used to wear it at Top Cats shows.

THE HIGH BEES – ‘SOME INDULGENCE’

Aside from her work with Uh Oh Chongo, Krule’s mum played bass for clarinet-heavy ensemble The High Bees alongside Krule’s uncle. The band have only released one seven inch — the brilliantly detached-sounding “Some Indulgence / She’s Killing Time”.

HARAKET – ‘SEA GRIDS’

Marshall’s graffitti artist brother Jack also, secretly, plays in a band or two. The groove-laden trip-hop beats of Haraket recall latter-day Radiohead and early-era Portishead, while his other band Words Backwards is a lighter, funkier guitar-based affair. Naturally, like bats to a cave, we’re more about Haraket.

AZTEC CAMERA - ‘GOOD MORNING BRITAIN’

David Ruffy drummed in a lot of bands. But especially 80s baggy act Aztec Camera.

JERKCURB - ‘NIGHT ON EARTH’

Not technically related, but Jerkcurb — AKA Jacob Read — grew up with best friend Marshall in south-east London, and the pair regularly play shows together. The misty, reverb-ready quietude of “Night on Earth” is something straight out of Marshall-land.