Before Moodymann rewired his brain, Stiltz idolized Elliott Smith , mentioned here by name in the slow-burning closer “15,” and he cites Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse as an inspiration. Having grown up between Stockholm and California, he’s recently been reconnecting with the Golden State and its highways, motels, and rest stops as these songs are littered with references to the I-5, Pasadena, and Santa Rosa. Totally suggests the pensive headspace of an adult returning to his childhood haunts trying to make sense of it all.

Writing diaristic, country-leaning soft-rock, Stiltz also touches on the work of David Berman and Bill Callahan . The smoothness of Knock Knock echoes through the rolling mid-tempo grooves of Stiltz’s unshowy arrangements, featuring drifting pedal steel from Theo Stocks and tasteful embellishments from Ana Roxanne on piano and vocals.…