The last we heard from Echo and the Bunnymen, the English post-punk outfit was tearing it up in Austin and watching Ocean Rain ascend to space. Since then, they’ve remain out of the limelight so to speak, working on their first new studio album in four year.

On October 12th, Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant will reveal the finish product when they release The Fountain. Details remain a bit skimpy, but we do know John McLaughlin served as producer and Coldplay’s Chris Martin will be making an appearance on one track. We also know that the album’s first single, “Think I Need It Too” will hit stores on September 28th. A tracklist and album art are still forthcoming, in addition to a U.S. release date.

Echo and the Bunneymen will support the release with a eight dates across the U.K. and western U.S. starting in mid-October. More extenisve legs are expected to follow thereafter.

Echo and the Bunnymen 2009 Tour Dates:
08/02 – Liberty City, NJ @ All Points West
08/04 – Stradbally, IE @ Electric Picnic
10/12 – Wolverhampton, UK @ Wulfrun Hall
10/13 – Manchester, UK @ The Ritz
10/14 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowlands
10/15 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
10/20 – Toronto, ON @ Elizabeth Theatre
10/22 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
10/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theatre
12/12 – Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy