diff --git a/src/player.js b/src/player.js
index b67c2bf..1d5e680 100644
--- a/src/player.js
+++ b/src/player.js
@@ -68,9 +68,12 @@ function _crossfadeNpBg(cv) {
     const nextEl = document.getElementById(`np-bg-${nextId}`);
     if (!currEl || !nextEl) return;
     nextEl.style.backgroundImage = cv ? `url('${cv}')` : 'none';
-    nextEl.style.opacity = '1';
-    currEl.style.opacity = '0';
-    _npBgCurr = nextId;
+    // Double rAF: wait for browser to paint the new bg (GPU decode) before fading
+    requestAnimationFrame(() => requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      nextEl.style.opacity = '1';
+      currEl.style.opacity = '0';
+      _npBgCurr = nextId;
+    }));
   };
   if (!cv) { doFade(); return; }
   const img = new Image();
diff --git a/styles.css b/styles.css
index 844c881..79f89f3 100644
--- a/styles.css
+++ b/styles.css
@@ -515,6 +515,7 @@ nav{flex:1;overflow-y:auto;padding:4px 10px}
   filter:blur(60px) brightness(.35) saturate(1.4);
   transform:scale(1.1);
   transition:opacity .55s ease;
+  will-change:opacity;
   z-index:0;
 }