Jeremiah Lockwood, the singer/songwriter/guitarist who leads the Sway Machinery, has been greatly influenced by two individuals: Jacob Konigsberg, his late grandfather, who was a cantor; and the bluesman Carolina Slim, Lockwood’s musical mentor. The Sway Machinery has a big sound, and it incorporates elements from other genres, such as rock and Afropop. The House of Friendly Ghosts, Vol. 1, came about as a result the five-man band traveling to Mali to participate in the Festival in the Desert. House spotlights the vocalist Khaira Arby and several other African musicians, including Vieux Farka Toure, contribute to the album. In the past, Lockwood has looked to the desert blues of outfits like Tinariwen for inspiration, so this album comes off as a natural next step in the band’s evolution. Lockwood has always possessed a distinctive voice, but now he has really come into his own as a vocalist. (Lockwood’s singing and Arby’s powerful voice make for a wonderful contrast from track to track.) It’s a joy to hear someone create forward-looking music as he digs deeper and deeper into his roots.