Out of Nowhere (HUCD 3096) is the exhilarating debut from Two Siberians. While the innovative electric-string duo's melodies and energy seduce, it's their sound-alternately lush, powerful and frequently cinematic-that makes the Two Siberians unique.

Electric guitarist Yuri Matveyev and electric violinist Artyom Yakushenko are virtuosos, and their music-a singular hybrid of rock, folk and jazz propelled by a Russian ethnic pulse-is unlike anything out there. Out of Nowhere is a musical feast. It's a multi-cultural distillation of growing up in Siberia-nowhere-and the result is compelling to music lovers of wildly different persuasions. With their fiery performances and infectious original compositions, it's no wonder that the Two Siberians are renowned throughout Russia and Eastern Europe.

The album's 15 cuts (ten of which are three minutes or so in length) include "Amoroso," a beautifully atmospheric lullaby sung by bassist Richard Bona, and "Allergic to Gravity," with tenor sax superstar Michael Brecker, percussionist Mino Cinelu and bassist Matt Garrison. A lot of musical territory is covered throughout and frequently even within each track. Check out Don Byron's dazzling clarinet on the folk original "Vodka Diaries" or the forceful and ultimately beautiful "Searching for Power,"

Matveyev is the son of Russian folk dancers. Yakushenko is the son of Yevgeny Yakushenko, the "Father of Siberian Rock." For the former classmates, it's been a long, strange trip from Irkutsk, a small town 150 miles north of Mongolia. Yakushenko was thrown out of a classical conservatory for winning a coveted prize at a major (non-classical) Russian music festival. As a child, Matveyev won honors in the Russian Folk Dancing National Competition-but he wanted to play guitar. As he could not afford a guitar, he busied himself building his own.

In 2000, the Two Siberians first visited America with no money and no place to live. They made a name for themselves playing on the streets. 11-time Grammy-winning saxophonist Michael Brecker heard the Two Siberians and has became the most vigorous of their many champions. In another unlikely twist, it was the recovery and sale of meteorites which originated from out of nowhere-the asteroid belt-and which happened to land in Siberia that paid for much of this debut recording.

Out of Nowhere appeals to a broad demographic with diverse tastes, including fans of world, rock, folk, jazz and bluegrass-Phish and Dave Mathews' fans will be entranced. Currently in Siberia, look for the Siberians to come out of the cold and tour the U.S. in March in support of their new album.