In the extensive liner notes by Camilla Aisa, Jeffrey Runnings says that it wasn’t his intention to release the music that he was recording on a thrifted 8-track machine. But, in a tragic turn of events, Piqued  would be Runnings final solo album. Last fall, the musician, known for his work as bassist and singer of For Against, learned that he had advanced stage cancer. Over the course of the next few months, he was able to finish up the collection of songs and work with Independent Project Records, who had previously released For Against albums, to begin approving the artwork. Runnings died on March 3, 2025 at the age of 61. Piqued was released posthumously in July. It is both a testament to Runnings’ creativity and a loving tribute to the musician. 

For Against formed in 1980s Lincoln, Nebraska with a sound influenced by British post-punk and were one of those bands that probably should have gotten more props than they did. I remember coming across their album December in the KXLU archives long after it was released and it blew my mind that I hadn’t heard them before. It was so heavily on the early 4AD vibe. Also, I think I assumed For Against was British. 

For Piqued, Runnings returned to those post-punk influences. In the liner notes, he describes the album as “mostly instrumental hi-fi/lo-fi baroque pop mashup with early 4AD” and that’s a really good description. There’s an eclecticism to the album. “Batman Forever,” which opens the album and is one of few vocal tracks on Piqued, is melancholic dreampop and is immediately followed by the energetic space rock of “Just Before Nothing” and “Threadbare.” Meanwhile, “Mayfair” has the feel of a new wave slow jam, the sort of song that you might hear during the dramatic school dance climax of a John Hughes movie, and “Heretofore” juxtaposes a dark, post-punk guitar with lighter vocals. The album proper closes with “Elegy,” a lush instrumental that reminds the listener of the circumstances behind this album. 

The package also includes a bonus record with four tracks culled from Runnings’ late 1980s demos. They’re interesting pieces. “Follow” plays with drones and repetitive rhythms in a way that is meditative while “Demolition Blast” has a Creation Records dreaminess that I really appreciate. 

No doubt, there is a sadness that comes with listening to Piqued, but there’s also a lot of love in it. The packaging for the vinyl is spectacular, with a letterpress-printed die cut jacket. Tucked inside an insert pouch are the liner notes as well as three postcards featuring drawings that Runnings made in the last weeks of his life. The amount of care and attention to detail that went into Piqued is impressive and it’s a wonderful example of why physical media is so important. Together, Runnings and Independent Project Records were able to make something that’s both an artist’s final statement and a beautiful tribute to him.

Get Piqued by Jeffrey Runnings, out now on Independent Project Records.

Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs or listen to the latest Beatique Mix. Follow on Instagram  or Bluesky for more updates.

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