Ultra is the debut studio album by English pop band Ultra, released in 1998 by East West Records (Warner Music Group). Produced by former Tears for Fears member, Ian Stanley, the album was mainly performed and co-written by James Hearn (vocals), Jon O'Mahony (drums), Nick Keynes (bass) and Michael Harwood (guitar).

Before its domestic release in the United Kingdom, Ultra achieved early success across Southeast Asia. Its first singles, particularly "Say You Do" and "Say It Once" helped establish the group in overseas markets. The album was subsequently released in several Asian territories in mid-1998, later extended to Europe, where "Say It Once" charted on the Italian airplay charts and the band performed at the country's Festivalbar.

Critically, some reviewers praised its strong pop melodies, while others criticized it for lacking originality and sounding too similar to other boy bands. By early 1999, the album reached gold-level sales in Italy and Indonesia, and debuted and peaked at number 37 on the UK Albums Chart.

Ultra was a British pop band from Buckinghamshire, consisting of James Herne (vocals), Jon O'Mahony (drums), Nick Keynes (bass) and Michael Harwood (guitar). Formed during the members' school years, the group developed independently by performing in local venues. The band strongly resisted the "boy band" label, since they wrote their own music and played their own instruments. They were managed by Tony Gordon, known for his work with Culture Club and Curiosity Killed the Cat.

Ultra's international career progressed far more rapidly than East West Records had anticipated, leading the label to release the band's debut album in several overseas territories before the United Kingdom. The group's initial breakthrough occurred in Southeast Asia, where the debut single "Say You Do" gained strong radio support. To reinforce this early momentum, the band spent three weeks in the region in July 1998, undertaking a series of promotional activities. East West released Ultra in Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and South Korea, issuing versions that included additional tracks specifically prepared for the Asian market. The album was released in Japan in 12 October. East West international head Ian Grenfell expected sales to reach 200,000 in Asia alone.

Following the success in Asia, Italy and the Scandinavian countries became the next territories to adopt the project. In Italy, the single "Say It Once" reached number one on the airplay chart, prompting the local affiliate to release the album in mid-September. The band performed "Say It Once" on Festivalbar, one of the country's most prominent television entertainment programs.

Gerald Martinez of the New Straits Times wrote that "Say You Do" is "a sparkling single" with "a great dance beat and great hooks", described "Say It Once" as "a pretty tune", and commented that "this is a very accomplished pop album, with Ultra putting together a distinctively driving sound, with several tunes looking set to make the singles charts".

Caroline Sullivan, writing for The Guardian, noted that although the band distinguished itself from typical boy-band conventions by playing its own instruments, they "sound every millimetre as battery-farmed as their rivals", and "still manage to make each ditty uniquely flavourless, especially in the vocals, where their breathy harmonies are a composite of every other boy group's".