0: Prologue

Pretty City by The Modified

Reproduced below are the lyrics to the controversial song, ‘Pretty City’ (1997) The track was the only hit by techno-punk band; The Modified. The group were forced to disband and return to anonymity shortly after the infamous ‘Zilch Event’ of 30th August, 1997.

Even the odds, add some demons and mods

Modified fighters and weekender gods

Faeries from space with a Bolshevik stance

Avalon City’s the place where we dance

The tor, the corruption, right-angles to time

A mask to save face, back to your place or mine

The once and the future, the infinite now

Avalon City’s where we show you how

Chorus -

Pretty City. Pretty City.

Pretty City. Pretty City.

The Otherworld’s here, take a quick look around

The streets and the spires, the trains underground

The bars and the clubs and the venues are blazing

Avalon City’s a maze of amazing

Part the veil at the party, yeah, we’re coming out swinging

The crashers and killers have stopped all their singing

UFO back up and future shock doctrine

Avalon City’s where the saints are all flocking

[Chorus]

There’s nothing to lose, zero, zilch, nil or nada

So dress up and fess up, doing less would be sadder

Crackling with magick or cutting edge tech

Avalon City, raise the ante or check

Look good in a hood, altruism apparel

Can’t cope with a cape? You need to switch channel

The time is right now, well, isn’t it always?

Avalon City’s the place for the new phase

[Chorus x3]