We can easily forget that the finest hi fi in the world is pointless without the recordings played through them.

The Naim Label is a part of the world-class hi-fi manufacturer, Naim Audio, a company renowned for producing some of the best sounding hi-fi equipment available today. Although recordings are not a core part of my business I intend to stock this range as they not only represent very fine recordings they also introduce relatively unknown artists.

Belonging to this highly regarded British company means that its inherent philosophy is shared with the label, one of achieving absolute sound quality and preserving the musicians' art.

Even more pleasing is Naim's array of recorded artists. The label has an on-going relationship with the highly acclaimed and critically recognised guitarist, Antonio Forcione: together they are approaching his eleventh and twelfth releases – Antonio Forcione Quartet In Concert DVD and Live CD.

Naim has a relationship with legendary double bassist, Charlie Haden who has long been a fan of the company's hi-fi equipment. The label has given him the opportunity to work with musicians with whom he may not otherwise have recorded. These include pianists Chris Anderson, Mike Melvoin, British jazz pianist John Taylor, and most recently Antonio Forcione himself, on Heartplay, a True Stereo recording by Chicago’s Ken Christianson.

The label has also traditionally given a voice to musicians whose music may not have had the chance to be heard by a wider audience. Hence, other recent releases have included works by Fred Simon - a pianist formerly with Windham Hill, Mike Lindup - ex-Level 42 keyboard player, and The Laurence Hobgood Trio, comprising the three musicians who accompany Kurt Elling for his live performances. Naim has also collaborated successfully with classical artists: the UKs longest running string quartet, the Allegri Quartet, the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Iona Brown and celebrated Scandinavian pianist, Havard Gimse.

The reason Naim entered the record industry came from a frustration with the poor sound quality of many CDs. Naim believed that it could record and release music that would take the sound quality of CD playback to another level. So, it undertook various tests of all stages of the production process, compared many end results in listening tests and came up with the definitive method of CD production, a method to which it still rigorously adheres.

I asked a friend of mine, Andy Jones, to give me an opinion of the new release 'Phantom Limb' from the Naim Label in no more than 500 words. I kind of regret it now as it is taking up two pages on my website however, it is pretty good and I guarantee I did not prompt the final sentence! Click on the album cover below to read the review.