The Reference Desk
The Reference Desk
CJSW 90.9 FM
Join Andrew Baldock while he scours CJSW's music library for odd albums, fascinating bands, and other projects that make you go, "hmmmm..." The Reference Desk is a journey through genres, studying underground sounds and maybe even teaching listeners something new along the way!
The Reference Desk - Episode March 30, 2026
Fish in a Birdcage is a local act - originally from Victoria, BC - with a massive, global online following. Since his first release, Dustan Townsend has developed super devoted fanbase of Dark Cabaret Music lovers.
Mar 28
Dreissk
Andrew takes a stab at the somewhat difficult task of describing an ambient/drone album. Seiche by Dreissk; an atmospheric journey awash with soft white noise, deeply layered instrumentation, and powerfully emotional progressions. Let's see how well he did.
Mar 3, 2023
Cromagnon
Way back in 1969 two pop musicians took a stab at recording an experimental psych folk album in one day. The result is a mythical release more often talked about than listened to. One that could be called bizarrely prescient or grossly self-indulgent, depending on the listener. See for yourself if this is just artistic over indulgence or a legitimately significant record.
Feb 17, 2023
Dr. Colossus
Some bands take the idea of concept albums and apply it to their whole band. While many of these bands tackle epic stories spanning multiple albums or heady concepts like politics or philosophy. Other bands just really, really.... really like the Simpsons. Dr. Colossus is a doom metal band from Australia that exclusively sings about and draws inspiration from the longest running animated sitcom in history. In this episode Andrew takes a closer look to see what lies under their yellow-skinned surface.
Dec 4, 2022
Being Human Being
Combining the expressive experimental trumpet styles of Erik Trufaz, the minimalist electronic ambiences of Murcof, and the stark post apocalyptic artwork of Enki Bilal, Being Human Being is the soundtrack to a live audio visual experience only ever performed once. At the 2013 D'Jazz Nevers festival in France these three artists left the audience speechless with a morose tale of strife, love, and the human condition. In this episode of the reference desk Andrew tries to pull apart this work of art and analyze what little its creators give you to make sense of it all.
Oct 19, 2022
Walpurgis
Long ago in an ancient land known as England, a group of musicians made a name for themselves by thrilling audiences with songs of death, destruction, and horror. They called themselves Black Sabbath. But every legend has to start somewhere. Before paranoid, before sabbath bloody sabbath, even before their eponymous album; Osbourne, Iomi, Butler, and Ward recorded a demo with legendary BBC radio announcer and music industry gatekeeper John Peel. This episode of the reference desk is about that demo, known to mortal men as... Walpurgis.
Oct 19, 2022
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
The best music from the worst band name you'll ever hear. PPC is an Australian psych rock outfit with more riffs than you can shake a drumstick at. Andrew's got everything you need to know about them so you can one up your friends that just discovered King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
May 24, 2022
Igorrr
What? Just... I mean... is this for real? It's breakbeat, baroque, and DEATH METAL!? All at the same time? Who comes up with this stuff? Find out as Andrew takes a good long look at the entire body of work from this baffling french avant-garde metal project.
May 9, 2022
Morphine
It's bass music for people who don't like EDM. This 90's alt rock outfit centered their sound around a two string slide bass and baritone sax. Andrew explores the evolution of their sound and the band's odd stylistic choices over the band's 8 years of life.
May 9, 2022
Jazz Daredevil
You may be familiar with the voice work of H. Jon Benjamin. But did you know the Archer and Bob's Burgers star also put together a jazz album on which he plays piano? There's just one minor hitch. Jon doesn't know how to play piano.
May 9, 2022
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