"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]
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard declared "Ultra Flava" as a "diamond-hard house gem".[5] On the single review, he 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".[6]James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update described it as an "infectious Robin S-ishly plopped progressive wriggly percussion groove".[7]
Impact and legacy
Mixmag ranked "Ultra Flava" number 33 in its list of the best singles of 1995, "Mixmag End of Year Lists: 1995".[8]
DJ Mag ranked it number 85 in their list of the "Top 100 Club Tunes" in 1998,[9] and in 2016 ranked the song number-one in their list of the "Top 50 Tracks of 1996".[10]
Tomorrowland featured it in their official list of "The Ibiza 500" in 2020.[11]