Global production and recording of songs has not ceased during the fifteen-month hiatus imposed by the measures in place caused by COVID-19 and its variants. Over the months, we have seen long-distance collaborations that have given our lives a bit of humanity.

Mike Goudreau, encamped on his land in Stanstead, could not have in his studio his inseparable friend, Dany Roy, who plays the saxophone, the trumpet as well as concocted the vocal arrangements on this incredible 21st album by the guitarist. For Roy, Montreal has only one color: red. Longtime drummer, Jean-François Bégin's Sherbrooke wavers towards purple; isolated, the three lads managed all the same to create in a virtual laboratory a blues, swing, rock'n roll album that can free anyone from their masks.

Fourteen new songs, that's not nothing! Let’s Go Down To The River takes over our ears and our bodies to the sound jump blues that sparkles with joy. Isolation Blues, a song that reaches all the whims and intentions of a slow but cathartic blues.

Take A Chance With Me is an opportunity to invite harmonica player Pascal Veillette, who is also heard on two other pieces. Pianist and organist Ira Friedman, just two stone throws away from Goudreau, collaborated on three songs from the state of Vermont where he lives.

On Half a Day From Home, Goudreau creates suspense with a swampy sounding reverb on his guitar that reminds us of CCR's Green River. On I Got a Good Feeling and She's Got The Power, the singer takes the lead and is absolute in this soul vessel that grooves. You will be lulled by Count On Me, from the benevolent words of a friend who is there for you to the skilfully captured softness of a ballad, we can recognize the expertise of this musician. It goes without saying, it's refined. For the outro on track 14, I’m Still Crying is more electric sounding à la Freddie King genre, even reminding us of Killing Floor by Howlin ’Wolf!

Of course, you get more than a smile when you listen to Isolation Blues. Hi-hats hits are numerous, from Louis Jordan to JJ Cale... In the end, the distance between the musicians was of little importance: we really have the impression that all these beautiful people are in the same studio, breathing the same air and playing so tightly together.