diff --git a/docs/music-candidate-pool.md b/docs/music-candidate-pool.md
index 888293e..cd44014 100644
--- a/docs/music-candidate-pool.md
+++ b/docs/music-candidate-pool.md
@@ -12,6 +12,14 @@ URL). Local review gallery (gitignored, like the other review pages):
 **Honesty flag:** licenses + URLs are verified; the "harmony" notes are inferred from
 genre/reputation, not a by-ear check — audition before final selection.
 
+## Operator picks & refined brief (2026-07-02)
+
+Operator auditioned and **kept `dreamcult` (Dream Culture) + `silverblue` (Silver Blue Light)**
+— both Kevin MacLeod, CC BY, drumless cinematic-calm synth. **Rejected everything else** as
+"boring OR too much snare drum." So the refined target is **drumless, evolving-chord ambient
+synth** in that exact lane — the HoliznaCC0 lo-fi (beat-driven) is OUT. A Round-4 search is
+sourcing ~8–12 more like the two keepers (Kevin MacLeod's Calming/Ambient catalog first).
+
 ## Two license families
 
 - **HoliznaCC0 = CC0** — zero attribution burden (simplest for the credits page).
@@ -21,7 +29,47 @@ genre/reputation, not a by-ear check — audition before final selection.
 - **Self-host everything** on R2 for the install — the `files.freemusicarchive.org` and
   `incompetech.com` URLs are live/hot-linkable now but shouldn't be depended on in prod.
 
-## Candidates (ranked by chord movement)
+## Round 4 — drumless, chord-moving (the refined set, 2026-07-02)
+
+All **Kevin MacLeod, CC BY 4.0**, **drumless confirmed from his per-track `pieces.json`
+instrument metadata** (tonal instruments only — no drum kit/percussion), verified live (206).
+This is the authoritative candidate list; the lo-fi below (beat-driven) is dropped.
+
+*(mp3 host `https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/<Title>.mp3`; source page
+`https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=<code>`.)*
+
+**Best matches — metered, chords clearly move** (safest bets, like the two keepers):
+| title | isrc | dur | instruments | harmony |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| Impact Lento | USUAN1100619 | 3:31 | Synths, Choir | "several striking chord progressions" |
+| Dreams Become Real | USUAN1500027 | 6:50 | Piano, Synths | dreamy, layered, evolving (closest to Dream Culture) |
+| Aretes | USUAN1100325 | 4:36 | Piano, Synths, Choir | warm major, clear motion |
+| When The Wind Blows | USUAN1100717 | 4:26 | Guitar, Synths | lilting, calm (Silver-Blue-Light recipe) |
+| Reawakening | USUAN1400017 | 3:34 | Piano, Cello | warm resolving progression |
+| Almost New | USUAN1800008 | 3:23 | Piano, Basses | gentle moving harmony (documented) |
+
+**Long-form / floaty — drumless but slower-moving** (audition for "boring" risk):
+| title | isrc | dur | instruments | note |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| Music for Manatees | USUAN1400009 | 17:36 | Piano, EP, Strings, Synth | slow consonant shifts |
+| Clean Soul | USUAN1300033 | 5:07 | Electric Piano, Bass | spacious, sparser |
+| Soaring | USUAN1600040 | 6:20 | Synths | evolving pads, mystical-calm |
+| Dewdrop Fantasy | USUAN1700001 | 34:58 | Synths, Rain | slowly changing, lower density |
+| Eastminster | USUAN1100719 | 6:45 | Plucked Strings, Synths | drone + koto, some tension — least chordal |
+| Overheat | USUAN1100630 | 7:03 | Flute, Synth, Violin | trance-y minimalism |
+| Concentration | — | 29:53 | Synths, EP | floaty, lower density |
+
+Reference: the kept **Dream Culture** is tagged "Piano, **Percussion**" (subtle beat); **Silver Blue
+Light** is "Guitar, Synths" (drumless). The Round-4 picks are strictly tonal-only. A ~40-track
+filtered pool of more drumless-calm-chordal KM tracks exists if a bigger rotation is wanted.
+
+**Rejected this round (percussion / not soothing):** Angel Share (Drums), Dreamer (Percussion,
+bpm 100), Lightless Dawn (Percussion + unnerving), Anamalie (Percussion + dark), Chill Wave &
+all HoliznaCC0 lo-fi (beat-driven).
+
+## Candidates — earlier mellow-synth round (lo-fi DROPPED, kept for record)
+
+Ranked by chord movement.
 
 ### Lo-fi / dreamy — HoliznaCC0 (CC0)