# Music candidate pool — mellow chordal synth (2026-07-02)

The chosen direction for the **Music** audio option: **mellow, soothing synth music with
real chord movement** ("many chords" — progressions that evolve, not static drones or
binaural tones). Supersedes the binaural exploration ([[binaural-candidate-pool]] — parked).
We'll use **several** tracks and **crossfade between them** (not loop one).

All **CC0 or CC-BY** (verified by fetching each page + a live HTTP 206 check on every audio
URL). Local review gallery (gitignored, like the other review pages):
`simulator/static/review_music.html` → open `/review_music.html` with the sim server running.

**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).
- **Kevin MacLeod = CC BY 4.0** — must credit, e.g. *"Chill Wave by Kevin MacLeod —
  incompetech.com — Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0."* The credits page
  already exists, so this is fine.
- **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.

## 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)

| id | title | source page | mp3 (verified 206) | dur | harmony |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `tokyo`   | Tokyo Sunset | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/public-domain-lofi/tokyo-sunset-lofi-peaceful-soft/ | .../Xnd9Hr5AVzB68IlWcImKtXPlwCePD2G2m8ZFSVj4.mp3 | 2:18 | jazzy extended-chord progression |
| `reverie` | Dreamy Reverie | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/public-domain-lofi/dreamy-reverie-lofi-nostalgic-chill/ | .../Bo2XWazV4kHpnPksjJGRRLr16EmOE44NZnMITZaB.mp3 | 2:23 | moving 7th/9th chords |
| `complic` | Complicated Feelings | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/public-domain-lofi/complicated-feelings-lofi-dreamy-relaxed/ | .../jEFkzWNxxtz76vjPoUOjZALHvdK3HkVMQAnGpgTn.mp3 | 2:39 | bittersweet changes |
| `drift`   | Peaceful Drift | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/public-domain-lofi/peaceful-drift-lofi-nostalgic-calm/ | .../SQvtLguk6S1VSthv0oXWycoB6ipUS0pt8jzAxxPq.mp3 | 2:08 | calm nostalgic progression |
| `currents`| Calm Currents | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/public-domain-lofi/calm-currents-lofi-relax-calm/ | .../4rKapZUMNnNSPAOvpjlfSH6B5Ib8rgEWdvjnM7C6.mp3 | 2:27 | flowing chords |
| `moon`    | Moon Unit | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/public-domain-lofi/moon-unit-lofi-reflection-dreamy/ | .../CbNZO1QUuJq1f50RHzZ5kykNj1hdqT04UaWOYSNf.mp3 | 2:52 | reflective dreamy chords |
| `mist`    | Into The Mist | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/public-domain-lofi/into-the-mist-lofi-calm-relaxed/ | .../cI5iv9Xga0OOvGsS7mGZn9BlTshZdzAqLW7bmArA.mp3 | 2:09 | calm progression |
| `wave`    | Wave Maker | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/public-domain-lofi/wave-maker-lofi-dreamy-retro/ | .../SbPJTWMnBmT5yBsXP4jLfp6RsvWLhfOnbw2PxXol.mp3 | 3:05 | warm analog retro chords |

*(mp3 host: `https://files.freemusicarchive.org/storage-freemusicarchive-org/tracks/`)*

### Calming synth — Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0 — credit required)

| id | title | source page | mp3 (verified 206) | dur | harmony |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `chillwave`  | Chill Wave | https://archive.org/details/ChillWave_781 | https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Chill%20Wave.mp3 | 3:57 | clear repeating 4-chord cycle |
| `enchanted`  | Enchanted Journey | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/Calming | https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Enchanted%20Journey.mp3 | 4:29 | many changes, warm major |
| `dreamcult`  | Dream Culture | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/Calming | https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Dream%20Culture.mp3 | 3:34 | evolving chord sequence |
| `silverblue` | Silver Blue Light | https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/Calming | https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Silver%20Blue%20Light.mp3 | 5:50 | slow, deliberate changes |

### Spares

- **Clean Soul** — Kevin MacLeod — CC BY — 5:06 — `https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/mp3-royaltyfree/Clean%20Soul.mp3`
- **Old Age** — HoliznaCC0 — CC0 — 3:33 — https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/only-in-the-milky-way-part-1/old-age/
- **Deja Vu** — HoliznaCC0 — CC0 — 2:04 — https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/only-in-the-milky-way-part-1/deja-vu/
- More Kevin MacLeod (all CC BY 4.0, incompetech): Dreamer, Reawakening, Lightless Dawn,
  Almost New, Angel Share. The whole **HoliznaCC0 "Public Domain Lofi"** album is 42 CC0
  tracks in this vibe — a ready-made rotation if wanted.

## Rejected / not used

- **Kevin MacLeod baroque/classical "public-domain" pieces** — the *composition* is PD but
  incompetech states the *recording* is CC BY 4.0; harpsichord/orchestral, off-brief anyway.
- **NC finds** (great but non-commercial): Scott Holmes "Ambient Meditation" (CC BY-NC),
  ccMixter chordal ambient (Jeris/Quarkstar/duckett — CC BY-NC).
- **"Hang Binaural" — Mindseye** — CC BY-SA (ShareAlike), excluded per the CC0/CC-BY rule.

## Next

Operator auditions `review_music.html`, ticks keepers (Copy picks). Then wire the **Music**
source to a multi-track set that crossfades between the kept tracks (replaces the single
ethereal loop; see [[audio-music-option]]). Kept CC-BY tracks get a credit line on
`credits.html`; all kept files self-hosted on R2.