Dr. Peter Stanley - Principal Historian, The Australian War Memorial
The following is a transcript of Dr. Stanley's speech at the launch of 'The Riderless Horse'.

Ladies and gentlemen …
My passion and my job is to understand the past, and especially this year, the Great War, as it’s the 90th anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli, the Gallipoli campaign which Chloe and Jason have sung about this morning. Now it’s so hard to pull ourselves back ninety years and to imagine and understand what it was like for Australians at that time, and yet it’s so important to do that, and Chlöe and Jason Roweth have given us a way, a fresh route to that understanding; to understanding what that war was like, what it meant for Australians at the time, and what it still means for us today.
Of course we usually understand the past with our eyes; we read the documents, we read books, we look at paintings and photographs, and Chlöe and Jason have given us a different way of understanding the past, of understanding the past through our ears, and I think, having heard you this morning, also through our hearts. To hear the voices of the past, the words of the people of the past, really brings those people home to us. Today I was very struck, by your performance, you sang and spoke about people that I feel I know, Ted Smout, Bill Harney and Barney Hines. Barney Hines especially because I too was born in Liverpool, and I feel a sense of association with Barney Hines, not just because he was born in Liverpool, but because of what he did in the war, and what he suffered and what he became. To me Barney Hines is one of the great tragic figures of Australia’s Great War. And I think his story (and I have to say I wrote about Barney Hines in our magazine Wartime which is available for sale at the Memorial) is great way to understand just what Australians did in that war, and what it did to them.

I was also sold immediately on this CD when the very first piece was Leon Gellert’s wonderful poem “Anzac Cove”, with its powerful final line, you remember it ends, “There’s the sound of gentle sobbing in the south”. I’ve always wondered about that line, because how could somebody who’s lost a loved one in war sob gently? And I pondered this, and it was only when I was listening to your CD while I was driving back and forth to work at the Memorial, that I realized the sobbing is restrained because of the feeling of those people, that it’s restrained by a feeling of pride in sacrifice, and that sense of duty that those people were imbued with, and so that poor bereaved Mother, that poor bereaved family is restrained in its grief because of the cause that they serve. So we can learn about the past through listening to your voices on this CD.
And what words they are! It struck me that the words are a great range of emotions; they’re naïve, they’re proud, they’re cynical, poignant, sentimental, lyrical, humorous, but above all I think those words are Australian words, and they’re rendered to us by that beautifully clear harmonious singing and that precise, tuneful playing and through that medium we can understand the way the people of our past felt during the first and the greatest trial that our nation has ever endured.
Now the Great War of course gave us many things and you’ve told us many of those things this morning, a pervasive sadness because of those 60,000 dead. And the war memorial here at Bungendore shows us some of those names and we can imagine the effect of that. It gave us as you said that bitter social and political division; it gave us a generation scarred by what it had seen in the trenches and what it had done. It also gave us of course that legend that we called ANZAC, and I’m much struck that the sub-title of your CD is “An Australian Impression of World War One” and again your choice of words and music brought that out beautifully. The song, I think it’s towards the end of the CD, and you sang it this morning, that song, “Take me back to dear old Aussie”. Blighty - Britain - is a failure (and I’m resisting the temptation to sing this to you of course), “Blighty is a failure, take me to Australia, Aussie is the place for me.” And I think that the spirit of that CD is very much in that mould to explain to us who these people were, what they did and what they still mean to us today. So it’s my very great pleasure to declare this CD launched and to thank you very much for your service to us. Thank you Chlöe & Jason.

Dieter Bazjek - Folk Alliance News

Yet another very interesting and special-ized CD release from the prolific and talented Australian folk duo Chloe and Jason Roweth (also known as "Us Not Them"). Having had the pleasure of reviewing some of their earlier albums - As Good As New, Sleepers, and Coming in from the Old (with the band Collector) - I am not surprised at the amount of work and research that has gone into this CD.

As the title suggests, this is obviously a specialised collection of around 30 songs and short poems from the time of World War One, brought together here with much dedication and insight by Chloe and Jason - that is, researched, collected, arranged and performed. What may seem to many of us an undertaking with rather limited musical potential, turns - in the hands of this duo - into a fascinating illustration of Australians at war (1914-1918 or so).
This is a kind of history lesson with songs and poems, mostly as they were created and/or sung at that time by people who had to live (and die) through that terrible and futile war.

We are reminded of (true) stories illustrating the tragic and pointless loss of a mother's son and a child's father. But we are also shown the realization that our "enemies" are people just like us, in a song where a soldier has to bury the body of a Turk and finds a photo of that person's son who will not see his father again either. There are also a few songs composed more recently, using old poetry from that time, like the beautiful and haunting "The Route March" by Cathie O'Sullivan.

Sometimes the simple beauty or cheerful character of a song almost belies the deeper and tragic story within that song, and there are several parody songs, as were sung by soldiers at the time.

We all know that it is often humour that helps us to get through desperate times, and that's no more obvious and needed than in times of war. It's just a pity that we still have not learned from history! Congratulations though to Chloe and Jason for producing this fine album and reminding us in a subtle, sincere and musical way of the horrors of war. Check out their detailed and excellent web site for more information about them and their music (www.speedlink.com.au/users/usnothem), or telephone 0429 911663.

Rob Willis - Mulga Wire and other Folk Web Sites

The songs of our military have always had an attraction to me. As a lad growing up with the Army as my ambition I learnt many ditties and songs from the military types my family associated with. Dad was in New Guinea during WW2 and my grandfather was a member of the Australian Flying Corps stationed in England during WW1, there were years when the three of us would march together at Anzac services in Forbes. However neither of them, like the majority of the servicemen/women of this era, would talk at length about their time in the military. My good mate John Harpley who spent many years in The Army Reserve (Citizens Military Forces as it was known then) is also a walking encyclopaedia of these songs.

Years progress and attitudes change and indeed the whole image of war and its results now concerns me. But the songs live on and give a true indication of the feelings of the people involved. They are a great social record.
These songs are sometimes disrespectful to the rank and status of officers, sometimes crude, often patriotic and emotional but are always a vital record of the era. As a collector of folklife I have always made it a priority to record them and the associated memories of the people concerned.

However the important aspect, is the dissemination of the these traditions and once again this is where Chloe and Jason Roweth (Us Not Them) have come to the fore with the release of ‘The Riderless Horse – an Australian impression of World War 1’.

As usual the production and performance is to the high standard set by the duo and the whole CD is very listenable and an enjoyable mixture of song, verse and yarn. It is worth purchasing just for this listening enjoyment.
The image that strikes me however is the personal involvement that Chloe and Jason have put into this project. They have not been content with just looking at sheet music and listening to old records but rather taken the time to get to know the people concerned and listen to the way they sing the songs. Both have been along side me when we recorded the memories and music of Maysie Tucker whose father fought in both World Wars and who had a strong repertoire of songs from both conflicts.

There is a bit of master storyteller, singer and musician Bill Case in Jason’s performance of ‘The Army Song’. Again they had taken the trouble to meet, yarn and indeed perform with Bill before he died. And who will ever forget the magic concert in Jamberoo when we had Chloe and Carrie Milliner side by side!

Both Mark Cranfield the curator of Oral History and Folklore at The National Library of Australia and folklore collector John Meredith often mentioned the importance that these types of song had on their understanding of our history and how they gave them a perspective of the attitudes and feelings of the people involved. Meredith sang a great version of the Charlie Chaplin song that is on the CD.

Song and story are powerful methods of creating an awareness of our history and this along with Chloe and Jason’s live performances of ‘The Riderless Horse’ will ensure that these important memories of our past are retained. Please have a listen to their recording and take yourself back to this important era of Australian history.

John Dengate - Cornstalk Gazzette

World War 1. was the most pivotal event in Australia’s history. The shockwaves passed through the generations; it changed Australia for ever.Jason and Chloe have delved deeply and successfully to find the songs and poems which distill for us the many [often contradictory] emotions felt by the writers and singers of that terrible time when 60 000 young Australians died…and many more were shattered in mind and body.

Jason and Chloe present the songs with great empathy, finesse and spirit. Their musicianship is of the highest quality, their voices melodic and true while their articulation is excellent. The songs and poems range in mood and context from the correctly-establishment ‘Boys of the Dardanelles’ – obviously written by someone who never went there – to irreverent pieces such as ‘The Army Song’ and ‘Dinky Di’. There is the deeply moving ‘ The Riderless Horse’, written by John O’Brien and set to music by Denis Kevans , and the sentimental, but beautiful, ‘ Suvla Bay’. Henry Lawson is
represented as well.

The diggers of World War 1, the first A.I.F.,achieved feats of arms on the battlefields of Gallipoli, France and Flanders that matched those of the Homeric heroes of Greek myths. Out of the trenches, those same diggers performed inspired feats of larrikinism and insubordination that would leave their modern, respectable descendants stunned with disbelief. It’s all here on ‘The Riderless Horse’.

Jim Low - Simply Australia Web Site

The Riderless Horse – An Australian Impression of World War One is the latest offering from Us Not Them, - Chloe and Jason Roweth. Carefully selecting from mainly contemporary sources, the duo presents a variety of creative responses to the horrific experience of war. In song, tune and poem we are taken on a journey of reflection and enlightenment.

The musical selections range from the poignant and wistful to the rousing and boisterous. Euphemistic language is contrasted with literal descriptions and narratives that resulted from someone “doing their bit” in warfare. The sensitive juxtaposition of such varied material adds to the listening interest of this CD.

Special mention should be made of three songs that for me particularly stood out.

Their musical treatment of Henry Lawson’s poem The Route March is deeply moving. Processions, especially those associated with the military, always fascinate the young and are normally associated with lively, rousing music. But in keeping with the harsh implication of Lawson’s conclusion from what he observes, the hauntingly beautiful musical setting by Cathie O’Sullivan is so appropriate. Chloe’s vocals resonate much warmth and feeling.

Hic Jacet, a poem by Tom Wilson, has been set to music by Bob Rummery. Wilson fought at Gallipoli and his poem is a powerful and fascinating narrative of an individual’s growing awareness, while carrying out an officer’s order, of the stark horror and tragic waste in war. The sensitive treatment of this subject matter, with delicately restrained musical accompaniment, is again indicative of the intelligent perception of this talented duo.

There are a number of songs included that wistfully express a desire to be back in Australia. One of these is Dan Sheahan’s The Sleeper Cutters’ Camp, set to a wonderful tune by Denis Kevans. Jason takes the lead vocals and he does a fine job expressing the mixture of emotions, including frustration and bravado, in the narrative.

This CD presentation of music and spoken word constitutes a very valuable resource and listening experience. Covering a period of history that seems to be gathering greater public attention and interest, the accessibility of the material selected for the CD is commendable. It comes with a booklet containing all the song lyrics and poems as well as interesting and informative notes.

The vocals are strong and the diction clear. Chloe’s mandolin and Jason’s guitar are just so appealing. There is thought and feeling in their playing. Another fine CD from this exceptional duo.

Graham Seal - Trad & Now Magazine

One of the many paradoxes of war is its mixing of sadness and humour. On their new CD, The Riderless Horse, Jason and Chloë Roweth have captured that bittersweet balance in a beautifully conceived, arranged and performed selection of World War 1 songs and poems. It’s not often that every track on a CD is a winner, but this one proves that it’s possible.
Based on years of research and performance, the selection and arrangement of the songs and poems reflects the attitudes and experiences of Australians at home and at the front during The Great War. While the impact of that conflict was a profound one at the time and after, it has special significance for Australia as the Gallipoli campaign is popularly considered to have been the birth of this nation.

Strident nationalism is heard in only a few of the tracks - the 1915 pop hit Boys of the Dardanelles, for example. But the images, attitudes and situations portrayed in ‘The Banks of the Murray’, ‘Dan Sheahan’s ‘The Sleeper-Cutter’s Camp’ (tune Denis Kevans) and Lawson’s Scots of the Riverina (tune by Ade Monsborough) are unmistakeably Australian.
Another strong theme is loss, the focus of the title track, a poem by John O’Brien (Patrick Hartigan) with music by Denis Kevans. We hear the theme again in Lawson’s ‘The Route March’ (music by Cathie O’Sullivan) and it is also present in much of the verse, which includes the work of the noted poet Leon Gellert and the lesser-known Signaller Tom Skeyhill, both Gallipoli hands. The CD opens with Gellert’s sombre ‘Anzac Cove’, evocatively set to music by Bob Rummery, and other Gellert poems are sensitively placed throughout the recording.

Then there is the humour. The soldier songs -‘Ragtime Army’, ‘Hanging on the Old Barbed Wire’, the classic ‘Dinky Di’, (also sung in World War 2 and Vietnam), Bill case’s version of ‘The Army Song’, a parody of ‘Star of the Evening’ - are effectively arranged and placed to give a good balance of light and shade. The digger parody of the 1916 popular hit ‘Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty’ (England) ends with the lines:
‘Blighty is a failure, take me to Australia,
Aussie is the place for me.

Though even the humour usually has a point to make, and a sharp one at that, as in ‘The Army Song’:
Now they give us chicken, they say it is the best,
But we get the neck and the arsehole.
The officers get the rest…

Jason and Chloë again demonstrate their musical and vocal skills on this production, which is also a model of what can be accomplished with a couple of instruments and voices.

The Riderless Horse brings together many songwriters, poets, performers, collectors, researchers and the indispensable ‘Anon’ into a compelling presentation that reflects the ongoing importance of World War 1. It is a fine example of how to present collected and archival materials in an appealing format that honours the traditions and the people who keep those traditions, rather than ignoring or debasing them, as is often the case when the mainstream media attempt productions of this sort.

Packaging and presentation are top quality, with a well illustrated and written booklet containing lyrics and notes. This one has my vote for folk CD of the year.

Graham Seal’s Echoes of Anzac: Australian Voices at War was published in April by Lothian Books.


Historian and Musician Bob Rummery

The First World War still has a strong resonance with today's Australians. The Riderless Horse is a cd compiled by Jason and Chloe Roweth, two young Australian musicians who wear their Australian identity proudly. The cd contains a wonderful selection of WW1 anecdote, song and verse that allows the listener to hear the authentic voice of the Australian soldiers from 1914-18 speaking clearly and confidently across the intervening years. It's all there - the pathos, the drama, the horror and the humanity. And round it all and through it all shines the humour. Jason and Chloe have done a great service both to the many thousands of soldiers who bore the brunt of the fighting and to their families who waited at home.

Anyone with an interest in Australia and Australians and World War 1 will greatly benefit from this outstanding production. What a great slice of Australian history!


Steve Baker - ABC Far North Qld

Archivists and entertainers Chloe and Jason Roweth performed what I now realise was a short prelude to this CD at The Yungaburra Folk Festival in 2003. These were songs and poems from World War 1. The pieces were alternatively irreverent, ghastly and funny, born of the horrors and mateship of The Great War, and they have been developed into a warmly received themed concert, which has now evolved to become this CD.

The CD contains 27 items ranging from Henry Lawson’s touching Scots Of The Riverina to the mildly rebellious To Save Democracy, which I heard in Yungaburra.
“Oh the Colonel kicks the Major, then the Major has a go. He kicks the poor old captain who then kicks the NCO.
And as the kicks get harder, they are passed on down to me. And I am kicked to bloody hell, to save democracy!”

Chloe and Jason are perhaps best known as the duo Us Not Them and have dedicated themselves to recreating and ferreting out our heritage in song and verse. Their reverent and sensitive attitude shines forth as do their fine voices and musicianship. That superb wartime song The Sleeper Cutters Camp, which Us Not Them has previously recorded on As Good As New is reprised. A good many marching tunes are included as well as the grimly funny Hiding In The Ammunition Van.

Ian Gilbert wrote the following in Gallipoli in 1915. The poem is recited on the CD.
“When my poor body died, Alas! I watched it topple down a hill, and sink beside a tuft of grass. …I laughed like mad, …And laughing still, I bowed and thanked the bit of shell that set me free and made me glad. Then, quietly, I strolled to hell.” The Riderless Horse is sometimes grim, often amusing but always compelling.

Country of Origin: Australia
We rate it:
4 and a half stars out of 5