In One Ear Cocteau Twins, Ivor Raymonde and Me

A Rough Trade Book of the Year. A Resident Book of the Year. A Classic Pop Book of the Year. Nominated for the 2025 Association for Recorded Sound Collections Awards for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research.

"A wonderful book," declares Elton John. "Beautiful, insightful and honest," says Cillian Murphy, while the Observer calls it "a love letter to a charmed life lived through music." This is the highly acclaimed story of Simon Raymonde, one-third of the seminal band Cocteau Twins, in his own words.

Simon helped to create some of the most beautiful and memorable albums of the '80s and '90s—music that continues to cast a spell over millions. This book begins with his remarkable childhood and explores his relationship with his father, Ivor Raymonde, the legendary producer and musician for acts like the Walker Brothers and Dusty Springfield. It then journeys through his rise to prominence with Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil.

The narrative also charts the successful career he has forged running his own label, Bella Union, for the past twenty-seven years. Through it, he discovered and developed globally renowned artists like Beach House, Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty and John Grant. This compelling story leads back to the present day, reflecting on his most recent experiences in the music industry—all while going deaf in one ear.

A must-read for music fans, this is the incredible, intimate tale of Simon's life and legacy.