Ten new songs from Calvin Johnson, compiled on his second album as a solo artist. Calvin's first album, What Was Me (KLP117) is a Spartan kalang of guitar and voice; Before the Dream Faded is a collection of collaborations, with a slate of guest producers including Khaela Marricich (the Blow), Mirah yom tov Zeitlyn, Johnny Jewel (Glass Candy) and Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie) livening things up the with their ideas about arrangements and textures. Other guest players, including Adam Forkner (Yume Bitsu, VERSION), Jona Bechtolt (Y.A.C.H.T.), Warren Lee and Devin Welch (Chromatics, Shoplifting) add a psychic twist, dramatizing all that is unholy in the Olympia underground schematic.

This album was recorded at the Dub Narcotic studio in Olympia, Washington, except "I Am Without", recorded by Johnny Jewel at his D/E/A/T/H D/I/S/C/O studio in Portland, Oregon, and "Delverance", recorded by Phil Elverum, Nowhere, Anacortes, Washington.

Calvin Johnson is the founder of K and operates the Dub Narcotic Studio, where he has recorded such stalwarts as Mirah, Tender Forever, Yume Bitsu, the Gossip. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Old Time Relijun and Fitz of Depression. He has released numerous records with the bands Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System and the Halo Benders, and toured across the United States scads of times, and will continue to do so after Before the Dream Faded is released.