2011’s Most Underrated Music: The Flirtations - “Nothing But  a Heartache” (Guapo Feo Moombahton Remix)

In the ever progressive United Kingdom, moombahton’s rise is presently stalled behind the always present and again rising through bashment dancehall sound. Tracks like David Heartbreak’s “Blaze Up” have succeeded in being a take off on the underground pop norm, but the vibrant diversity apparent in the sound remains withheld. If moombahton is to truly flourish in the UK, the answer lies in the proto-rave, dance all night expectation of Northern Soul.

NYC producer Barney Iller produces moombahton under the moniker of Guapo Feo, and creates a dembow knocking, cumbia swaying edit of a Northern Soul favorite, 1960s girl group The Flirtations’ “Nothing But a Heartache.” Northern Soul filtered American R & B into a dynamic that birthed the UK’s answers to house and techno, alongside jump up, breakbeats and every other style. Moombahton as seen through the genre’s eyes is funky, break driven house glory, a track likely before its time, but hopefully a future inspiration.