diff --git a/ui/src/lib/components/ListeningMode.svelte b/ui/src/lib/components/ListeningMode.svelte
index 6fd3681..b956b5e 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/components/ListeningMode.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/lib/components/ListeningMode.svelte
@@ -262,90 +262,101 @@
 	ontouchend={onTouchEnd}
 >
 
-	<!-- ── Full-bleed cover hero (top ~50% of screen) ────────────────────── -->
-	<div class="relative w-full shrink-0" style="height: 52svh; min-height: 220px; max-height: 380px;">
-		{#if audioStore.cover}
-			<!-- Full-bleed cover image -->
-			<img
-				src={audioStore.cover}
-				alt=""
-				class="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover"
-			/>
-		{:else}
-			<!-- Fallback when no cover -->
-			<div class="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center bg-(--color-surface-2)">
-				<svg class="w-20 h-20 text-(--color-muted)/30" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
-					<path d="M18 2H6c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2v16c0 1.1.9 2 2 2h12c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2V4c0-1.1-.9-2-2-2zm-2 14H8v-2h8v2zm0-4H8v-2h8v2zm0-4H8V6h8v2z"/>
-				</svg>
-			</div>
-		{/if}
-		<!-- Top gradient: surface → transparent (for header legibility) -->
-		<div
-			class="absolute inset-x-0 top-0 h-28 pointer-events-none"
-			style="background: linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--color-surface) 0%, transparent 100%);"
+	<!-- ── Blurred background (full-screen atmospheric layer) ───────────── -->
+	{#if audioStore.cover}
+		<img
+			src={audioStore.cover}
+			alt=""
 			aria-hidden="true"
-		></div>
-		<!-- Bottom gradient: transparent → surface (seamless blend into controls) -->
-		<div
-			class="absolute inset-x-0 bottom-0 h-40 pointer-events-none"
-			style="background: linear-gradient(to top, var(--color-surface) 0%, transparent 100%);"
-			aria-hidden="true"
-		></div>
+			class="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover pointer-events-none select-none"
+			style="filter: blur(40px) brightness(0.25) saturate(1.4); transform: scale(1.15); z-index: 0;"
+		/>
+	{:else}
+		<div class="absolute inset-0 pointer-events-none" style="background: var(--color-surface-2); z-index: 0;"></div>
+	{/if}
+	<!-- Subtle vignette overlay for depth -->
+	<div
+		class="absolute inset-0 pointer-events-none"
+		style="background: radial-gradient(ellipse at center, transparent 40%, rgba(0,0,0,0.55) 100%); z-index: 1;"
+		aria-hidden="true"
+	></div>
 
-		<!-- Header bar (sits over the top gradient) -->
-		<div class="relative z-10 flex items-center justify-between px-4 pt-3 pb-2">
-			<button
-				type="button"
-				onclick={onclose}
-				class="p-2 rounded-full text-(--color-text)/70 hover:text-(--color-text) hover:bg-black/20 transition-colors"
-				aria-label="Close listening mode"
-			>
-				<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
-					<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M19 9l-7 7-7-7"/>
-				</svg>
-			</button>
-			<span class="text-xs font-semibold text-(--color-text)/60 uppercase tracking-wider">Now Playing</span>
-			<div class="flex items-center gap-2">
-				<!-- Chapters button -->
-				{#if audioStore.chapters.length > 0}
-					<button
-						type="button"
-						onclick={() => { showChapterModal = !showChapterModal; showVoiceModal = false; voiceSearch = ''; }}
-						class={cn(
-							'flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full text-xs font-medium border transition-colors',
-							showChapterModal
-								? 'border-(--color-brand) bg-(--color-brand)/15 text-(--color-brand)'
-								: 'border-white/20 bg-black/25 text-(--color-text)/70 hover:text-(--color-text) backdrop-blur-sm'
-						)}
-						aria-label="Browse chapters"
-					>
-						<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
-							<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M4 6h16M4 10h16M4 14h10"/>
-						</svg>
-						Chapters
-					</button>
-				{/if}
-				<!-- Voice selector button -->
+	<!-- ── Header bar ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────── -->
+	<div class="relative flex items-center justify-between px-4 pt-3 pb-2 shrink-0" style="z-index: 2;">
+		<button
+			type="button"
+			onclick={onclose}
+			class="p-2 rounded-full text-(--color-text)/70 hover:text-(--color-text) hover:bg-white/10 transition-colors"
+			aria-label="Close listening mode"
+		>
+			<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+				<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M19 9l-7 7-7-7"/>
+			</svg>
+		</button>
+		<span class="text-xs font-semibold text-(--color-text)/60 uppercase tracking-wider">Now Playing</span>
+		<div class="flex items-center gap-2">
+			<!-- Chapters button -->
+			{#if audioStore.chapters.length > 0}
 				<button
 					type="button"
-					onclick={() => { showVoiceModal = !showVoiceModal; showChapterModal = false; }}
+					onclick={() => { showChapterModal = !showChapterModal; showVoiceModal = false; voiceSearch = ''; }}
 					class={cn(
 						'flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full text-xs font-medium border transition-colors',
-						showVoiceModal
+						showChapterModal
 							? 'border-(--color-brand) bg-(--color-brand)/15 text-(--color-brand)'
 							: 'border-white/20 bg-black/25 text-(--color-text)/70 hover:text-(--color-text) backdrop-blur-sm'
 					)}
+					aria-label="Browse chapters"
 				>
 					<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
-						<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M19 11a7 7 0 01-7 7m0 0a7 7 0 01-7-7m7 7v4m0 0H8m4 0h4m-4-8a3 3 0 01-3-3V5a3 3 0 116 0v6a3 3 0 01-3 3z"/>
+						<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M4 6h16M4 10h16M4 14h10"/>
 					</svg>
-					<span class="max-w-[80px] truncate">{voiceLabel(audioStore.voice)}</span>
+					Chapters
 				</button>
-			</div>
+			{/if}
+			<!-- Voice selector button -->
+			<button
+				type="button"
+				onclick={() => { showVoiceModal = !showVoiceModal; showChapterModal = false; }}
+				class={cn(
+					'flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 py-1.5 rounded-full text-xs font-medium border transition-colors',
+					showVoiceModal
+						? 'border-(--color-brand) bg-(--color-brand)/15 text-(--color-brand)'
+						: 'border-white/20 bg-black/25 text-(--color-text)/70 hover:text-(--color-text) backdrop-blur-sm'
+				)}
+			>
+				<svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+					<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M19 11a7 7 0 01-7 7m0 0a7 7 0 01-7-7m7 7v4m0 0H8m4 0h4m-4-8a3 3 0 01-3-3V5a3 3 0 116 0v6a3 3 0 01-3 3z"/>
+				</svg>
+				<span class="max-w-[80px] truncate">{voiceLabel(audioStore.voice)}</span>
+			</button>
+		</div>
+	</div>
+
+	<!-- ── Portrait cover card + track info ───────────────────────────────── -->
+	<div class="relative flex flex-col items-center gap-4 px-8 pt-2 pb-4 shrink-0" style="z-index: 2;">
+		<!-- Cover card -->
+		<div
+			class="rounded-2xl overflow-hidden shadow-2xl"
+			style="height: 38svh; min-height: 180px; max-height: 320px; aspect-ratio: 2/3;"
+		>
+			{#if audioStore.cover}
+				<img
+					src={audioStore.cover}
+					alt=""
+					class="w-full h-full object-cover"
+				/>
+			{:else}
+				<div class="w-full h-full bg-(--color-surface-2) flex items-center justify-center">
+					<svg class="w-16 h-16 text-(--color-muted)/30" fill="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+						<path d="M18 2H6c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2v16c0 1.1.9 2 2 2h12c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2V4c0-1.1-.9-2-2-2zm-2 14H8v-2h8v2zm0-4H8v-2h8v2zm0-4H8V6h8v2z"/>
+					</svg>
+				</div>
+			{/if}
 		</div>
 
-		<!-- Track info (sits over the bottom gradient) -->
-		<div class="absolute inset-x-0 bottom-0 z-10 px-6 pb-3 text-center">
+		<!-- Track info -->
+		<div class="text-center w-full">
 			{#if audioStore.chapter > 0}
 				<p class="text-[10px] font-bold uppercase tracking-widest text-(--color-brand) mb-0.5">
 					Chapter {audioStore.chapter}
@@ -499,7 +510,7 @@
 	{/if}
 
 	<!-- ── Controls area (bottom half) ───────────────────────────────────── -->
-	<div class="flex-1 flex flex-col justify-end px-6 pb-6 gap-0 shrink-0 overflow-hidden">
+	<div class="flex-1 flex flex-col justify-end px-6 pb-6 gap-0 shrink-0 overflow-hidden" style="z-index: 2; position: relative;">
 
 		<!-- Seek bar -->
 		<div class="shrink-0 mb-1">