I started writing up a review of the Bat For Lashes’ album, perhaps known to you as the odds-on post-Winehouse favourite for this year’s Mercury Prize before Klaxons eventually took it, but truth is I’ve had the sort of day that leaves one’s mind barely able to comprehend the need to eat let alone describe an album as unusual and interesting as Fur & Gold.

So I won’t. I’m going to see her at the El Mocambo tomorrow night so I’ll save any insights that may occur for that review. Instead I’ll toss out the reference points usually used in the context of describing the music of Natasha Khan – Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac, Bjork – and add my two cents (worth exactly that) in saying she reminds me of a less overtly pop, female Patrick Wolf. Armed with a harpsichord.

So check out the videos below, the Springsteen cover (via Pitchfork), this KCRW session graciously MP3-ed I Heart Music and read these features at AM New York and eye. And come by next week for some hopefully coherent thoughts on both the album and the show or maybe I’ll just see you there?

MP3: Bat For Lashes – “I’m On Fire”
Video: Bat for Lashes – “Whats A Girl To Do”
Video: Bat for Lashes – “Prescilla”
MySpace: Bat For Lashes

Another option for Friday night is Bloc Party, throwing down at The Docks. JAM! talks to the band about avoiding the sophomore slump on A Weekend In The City (though some, not me, would say they didn’t) and Spinner gets an inkling of what to expect on album number three. CityBeat also has a conversation.

And if neither of those shows tickles your fancy, perhaps you should get thee to the Horseshoe to see The Brunettes. Besides the always fun Kiwis, the bill also features Los Angeleno folkie Ferraby Lionheart and now local folk-pop outfit Forest City Lovers. The Daily Page and NewsOK have features on The Brunettes.

Exclaim! charts the long and fascinating career of PJ Harvey up to and including her latest album, the surprisingly inward and delicate piano-led White Chalk. They also have an interview with Polly Jean about it and The Times have a feature. You can stream a few of the tracks from the new record below and check the first video.

Video: PJ Harvey – “When Under Ether” (YouTube)
eCard: PJ Harvey / White Chalk

I Am Fuel You Are Friends has an interview with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, in town at the Kool Haus on October 1.

And some show news – Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, who played their first-ever Toronto show back in May play their second-ever Toronto show on October 28 at the Whippersnapper Gallery.

Sad news for everyone who’d hoped to spend Hallowe’en with The Go! Team – the show mas been moved both physically and temporally, now happening November 1 at the Phoenix. But hey, there’s nothing that says you can’t have a bitching All Saints Day party with the Go! Team. Maybe you can even ask them to play an All Saints cover to mark the occasion. No? No. Pitchfork solicits a guest list from Go! Teamster Ian Parton.

And the UK’s Athlete, whose last two albums have scored an impressive 99% on Metacritic… collectively… will be at Lee’s Palace on November 6. Check out a couple tracks from Beyond The Neighbourhood and judge for yourself if the critics are right.

MP3: Athlete – “Airport Disco”
MP3: Athlete – “In Between 2 States”

And finally, those of you bummed about missing the Broken Social Scene/Kevin Drew show at Lee’s tonight, take heart – they’re doing another one on December 8 at the Kool Haus. AOL Music Canada has a feature on Drew and CBC Radio 3 reports that work has begun on a book documenting the Broken Social Scene story. Maybe it’ll be a pop-up book.