Like many listeners I’m having a tough time categorizing The Heliocentrics’ debut release but I can tell you this ”“ the four years it took in making this album has paid off in spades. Led by the polyrhythmic-loving drummer Malcolm Catto, the UK collective was first heard on the genre nexus of the universe that was DJ Shadow’s 2006 album The Outsider. "This Time (I'm Gonna Try It My Way)" was a strange amalgamation of jazz-blues-funk-soul, et al but it was never dull.Now the nine-person collective jettisons their leader’s love of old dusty LPs into space ”“ the title of the album couldn’t be anymore appropriate. The different world the group explores isn’t that far away though. This musical spaceship is headed straight for a world we’ve seen before ”“ the melting pot that various artists found themselves in at the end of the ‘60s. On “Distant Star” the song borrows the playfulness of jazz-fusion. “Joyride” keeps up the propulsive tenacity found on any kraut-rock track (Kraftwerk comes to mind).Clips of dialogue from sci-fi movie clips (“Flight 583” and “Return Journey”) are interspersed throughout the record to add to the illusion that this is an intergalactic journey. Out There’s 24 prog-jazz rock tracks are obviously orbiting around one of Catto’s primary influencers ”“ the equally hard to define group Sun Ra.So sure the sci-fi elements are there in the all the electronic work but the dopplering beats, progressive heart and worldly fusion is inherently from this planet. There’s more terra cotta to the interstellar musical void on East meets West songs like “A World Of Masks.” “Sounds of the East” further amplifies the jazz and rock world as it collides with the marketplace sounds of India.The skittering hi-hat, maracas and bongos slink down into the grooves on “Before I Die.” That burrowing jazz bass is sexy as heck too. The electronic coda sends it all off into space via radio waves on “Intermission.” It’s appropriate to mention how seamless the segues between songs are. If you turn off the lights and just listen it becomes strangely hypnotic (another ‘60s quotation for sure) on “Somewhere Out There” and “Sirius A.” This is jazz pulled through a strainer laced with electronica, modern hip hop sampling and classic rock.Elsewhere, the bass and tack piano on “Age of the Sun” plays well off the electronic playfulness that blasts in from the bottom to distort the brass into psychedelic rock notes. There are throw-away tracks (namely the remix of Nico’s “Winter Song”) that seem to spin off into the void of the future or past, depending on how you look at it, For the most part this is a subtle album that begs to be listened with no distractions.As you can still tell it’s futile for me to try and describe this retro sci-fi album. The best experience comes from actually listening. The album ends on an appropriate note. “Outro” samples a space man informing the listener in a quote that encapsulates this album completely:“Well that was some experience. I wish I had time to stay and sight-see all over the planet but that sound you hear is the warning bell on my time machine letting me know it’s time to return to our own world, our own time. Hang on.” 79%mp3:> The Heliocentrics: "Sirius B"Links The Heliocentrics [myspace] [buy it]