« (...) are another NEW YORK band that ain't about to get stuck in that shagged out sixties rut. Their brew consists of five ingredients, that's three girls a guy and somethin' otherworldly that straps itself on soon as the other parts reach room temperature. So we'll introduce them without further ado.
"There's BOB URH on lead fuzz and vocals, ARIANE ROOT – Vox super continental, backup vocals and tambourine, TARA McMUNN - bass and backup vocals, and JOANNA KEREW on drums.
"THE ULTRA 5 are plugged direct into the mains of a lumbering fuzz drenched teenage monster that's intent on violating all that's in its path. Murkier than the mk1 Fuzztones, but somewhat related in the way that the jump started primordial ooze bonds to envelope its prey. The 5's first forty-five 'ITS ALONG WAY HOME' is already riveted to the hearts and what's left of the minds of the garage mafia throughout this monoxide-addled universe.
There's a little somethin' extra in this here soup - that magic fifth ingredient that kicks the whole mess into touch and drags you screaming through the swamp. »
―Next Big Thing magazine
This is how it all started. Now its been 12 years since we released a long player and 20 years since the band began, inspired by psych bands that released one single in 1967, plus all the usual ones like the Count V, Music Machine, Love, Chocolate Watch Band, Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf, etc., etc., etc. Before and after releasing our first 45 on our own label we contributed tracks to numerous comps, soundtracks, and split 45's, including the "Bones Walk" single and a great ep on Zebra records called "Back In The Savage Garden" in 1996 as well as three long players: "Reincarnation" 1991, "House O Fun" 1992, and a live at Tutti Frutti LP on Moonking records titled "Dead Or Live" recorded and pressed in Mexico on psychedelic vinyl ― after one of three tours in our favorite place to play.
Now the ULTRA 5 have a large cult following, especially in Greece and Mexico, inspiring people to form bands like the Ultrasonicas, Los Magnificos and to cover ULTRA 5 tracks - with more than 10,000 people attending the website www.ultraproductions.org yearly, and our great new "Denizens Of Dementia" CD on GREEN COOKIE records, with too many tracks to list and 2 video clips ― all digitally remastered with tons of unreleased pix !
It looks like maybe THE ULTRA 5 will rise again, all draped in leopard, to creep up on a stage near you!
-- Ultra 5 Headquarters, 2004
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"Denizens Of Dementia" is a compilation of rare Ultra 5 tracks from late 80s and early 90s including 1 unreleased song as well as 2 video clips. Ultra 5 are definitelly one of my favorite garage punk bands. I really love their trashy, psychotic and primitive garage punk sound, vox organ with fuzz guitar and cool garage punk image a bit in Cramps style - also 2 girls in the band (organ + bass). 24 tracks and all of them are mindblowing. Few covers like "Off The Hook" (Rolling Stones) or "The Last Ride" (Davie Allan.It's really difficult to pick out favorites here 'cos I will probably write all 24 songs. Anyway, here are some cool titles: "Lady Orange Peel", "Satan's Angel", "Hell", "Psychedelic Soul", "White Trash", ... If you don't have any records of Ultra 5 yet, this CD is a great opportunity to hear this great band with cult status.
-- NO BRAINS zine, the Netherlands
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Formed in 1986 in New York, The Ultra 5 play a psychedelic garage rock that reminds me of the Velvet Underground and Iron Butterfly, but with the cultured perversion of The Cramps. Fuzzed guitars and organs used the right way make this band’s primitive delivery sheer auditory pleasure. Sexy, creepy, & fun, these 24 tracks are a must-have. - BL
ROCK'N'ROLL PURGATORY magazine, USA
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The Ultra 5's reverence for the chemical imbalances that powered the earliest rock and roll, garage, rockabilly, and mutant R&B and coursed through its veins may not be not be as obsessive as that of The Cramps, but that's not to say it's any less authentic.
I-94 BAR, Australia
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