N THE TEA ROOM OF A BIJOU NOTTING HILL GATE HOTEL, DURING A particularly violent heatwave, the first Mael to join MOJO is Russell, the singing Spark. Appearing bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, he’s actually a bit discombobulated, having flown in from Los Angeles the day before, and requiring sleeping pills to counter the red-eye affect.
In casual, albeit carefully co-ordinated, clobber – between horizontal-striped polo shirt and socks are checked trousers, plus red-soled shoes – Russell is a marked contrast to his older brother Ron, the instrumental/songwriting Spark, who soon arrives, in buttoned-up white shirt and sombre blue tie, despite the weather, black suit trousers hoiked up past his waist, and dressy black brogues. His thinning, slicked-back hair, like Russell’s more boyish cut, is likely to be acquainted with black dye…