"Ultra Flava" is a house song by British duo Heller and Farley Project (Pete Heller and Terry Farley). After the wide renown with their remix of Ultra Naté's "How Long" in 1994 and M People's "Open Your Heart" in 1995, they released it as a single in 1996. It is a slightly re-worked version of their mix of "How Long", without Naté's vocals. They entitled it "Ultra Flava" as a nod to the track's origins.[2] It peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart[3] and number-one on the UK Dance Chart. In the US, it peaked at number 3 on the BillboardHot Dance Music/Club Play chart. The track was a huge club hit and received remixes by many DJs, like Boris Dlugosch, DJ Sneak, Grant Nelson, Mousse T. and Rhythm Masters. A black-and-white music video was also produced to promote the single.
"It's looking very good. Of all the records we've done, this is the most commercial, although I don't think it's that representative of what we do in general."
—Terry Farley talking to Music Week about the song.[4]
Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Mega-hot U.K. production/songwriting team is primed to enjoy matching stateside success with this, a rousing instrumental anthem influenced by legendary disco bands like the SalSoul Orchestra. Partners Pete Heller and Terry Farley prove adept at crafting taut pop hooks while maintaining a credible deep-house edge. A summertime club favorite on import, the domestic pressing of "Ultra Flava" boasts refreshing new interpretations by Mousse T., Ralphi Rosario, Boris Dlugosch, and DJ Sneak. A snug radio edit could easily result in a pop/crossover smash à la Robert Miles' "Children".[5]James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update described it as a "infectious Robin S-ishly plopped progressive wriggly percussion groove".[6]
Impact and legacy[]
Mixmag ranked "Ultra Flava" number 33 in its list of the best singles of 1995, "Mixmag End Of Year Lists: 1995".[1]
DJ Magazine ranked it number 85 in their list of the "Top 100 Club Tunes" in 1998.[7]
DJ Mag ranked the song number-one in their list of the "Top 50 Tracks of 1996" in 2016.[8]