TAKUYA NAKAMURA — Shape The Future (2x12")

Takuya Nakamura – Shape The Future opens the FABRICLIVE. double-LP (catalogue FL018LP) on 2×12-inch vinyl, a debut that maps the Japanese-born, New-York-based musician’s thirty-five-year journey through jazz, jungle and broken-beat terrain. The release arrives as a two-disc set: the first LP captures a live, hybrid set recorded at Fabric, while the second disc gathers studio versions of key tracks, including collaborations with Shigeto, Currency Audio and Tim Reaper. Within the FABRICLIVE. catalogue, Shape The Future follows the earlier FL008 “Model Collapse (Basic Rhythm Remix) / Proof” by Sully and the 2025 FL005 “Sage EP” by Tim Reaper, Mantra and Decibella, situating Nakamura’s debut among recent explorations of drum-and-bass and experimental club music on the label. Side A opens with “Takara Island” featuring Shigeto, a collaboration that extends the live set’s atmospheric opening into a textured groove, hinting at the ambient-jazz palette that underpins the record. “Broken Jazz” with Tim Reaper follows, juxtaposing the improvisational feel of jazz with the kinetic energy of jungle rhythms, creating a bridge between the live performance and the studio-crafted side of the album. The third track, “Make A Wish” with Currency Audio, leans into broken-beat syncopation, offering a moment of melodic focus before the record’s centerpiece. Side B begins with the title track “Shape The Future”, a centerpiece that consolidates the live set’s hybrid ethos, moving from reverberant jazz tones into a cinematic breakbeat that feels at home in both club and listening contexts. “Monium” continues the momentum with a darker, bass-heavy pulse that reinforces the record’s drum-and-bass core. The disc closes with a cover of “Don’t Give Up”, where Nakamura’s vocal adds a fragile human element to the otherwise instrumental journey, providing a resonant conclusion to the live side. Side C revisits “Shape The Future” in a live-from-Room 03 version, stripping back studio polish to expose the raw interaction between Nakamura’s trumpet and the Fabric sound system, a nod to the venue’s historic role in jungle culture. Side D repeats the same live recording, reinforcing the importance of this performance as a document of the artist’s live-DJ hybrid approach. In the context of Nakamura’s oeuvre, Shape The Future stands as a singular statement that fuses his extensive jazz background with the kinetic drive of jungle and drum-and-bass. While his past collaborations span a wide spectrum—from Sun Ra Arkestra to Wu-Tang Clan—this release consolidates those influences into a cohesive, double-LP format that showcases both his improvisational skill and his command of club-oriented production. For DJs, the record offers multiple entry points: the live cuts provide extended, dynamic sections suitable for peak-time sets, while the studio collaborations deliver tighter structures ideal for mixing into more polished techno or broken-beat blocks. Collectors will appreciate the dual nature of the set, which documents a seminal live performance at Fabric alongside meticulously crafted studio reinterpretations, making it a versatile addition to any vinyl-centric library. The 2×12-inch vinyl format presents the material across four sides, preserving the intended sequencing of live and studio material. The pressing follows the specifications provided by the label, delivering the full breadth of Nakamura’s hybrid sound on a traditional vinyl platform. Takuya Nakamura – Shape The Future, FABRICLIVE., FL018LP, 2×12-inch vinyl, 6 tracks across two discs, released 30 October 2026. Tracklist: A1. Takuya Nakamura – Takara Island feat. Shigeto A2. Takuya Nakamura – Broken Jazz feat. Tim Reaper A3. Takuya Nakamura – Make A Wish feat. Currency Audio B1. Takuya Nakamura – Shape The Future B2. Takuya Nakamura – Monium B3. Takuya Nakamura – Don’t Give Up C1. Takuya Nakamura – Shape The Future Live From Room 03 D1. Takuya Nakamura – Shape The Future Live From Room 03