diff --git a/internal/recommendation/candidates.go b/internal/recommendation/candidates.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8b825456
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/recommendation/candidates.go
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package recommendation
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgtype"
+
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/db/dbq"
+)
+
+func LoadCandidates(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	q *dbq.Queries,
+	userID, seedID pgtype.UUID,
+	recentlyPlayedHours int,
+) ([]Candidate, error) {
+	rows, err := q.LoadRadioCandidates(ctx, dbq.LoadRadioCandidatesParams{
+		UserID:  userID,
+		ID:      seedID,
+		Column3: float64(recentlyPlayedHours),
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	out := make([]Candidate, 0, len(rows))
+	for _, r := range rows {
+		var lpt *time.Time
+		if r.LastPlayedAt.Valid {
+			t := r.LastPlayedAt.Time
+			lpt = &t
+		}
+		out = append(out, Candidate{
+			Track: r.Track,
+			Inputs: ScoringInputs{
+				IsGeneralLiked: r.IsLiked,
+				LastPlayedAt:   lpt,
+				PlayCount:      int(r.PlayCount),
+				SkipCount:      int(r.SkipCount),
+			},
+		})
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/recommendation/candidates_test.go b/internal/recommendation/candidates_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f8522d23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/recommendation/candidates_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+package recommendation
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"io"
+	"log/slog"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgtype"
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgxpool"
+
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/db"
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/db/dbq"
+)
+
+func testPool(t *testing.T) *pgxpool.Pool {
+	t.Helper()
+	if testing.Short() {
+		t.Skip("skipping integration test in -short mode")
+	}
+	dsn := os.Getenv("MINSTREL_TEST_DATABASE_URL")
+	if dsn == "" {
+		t.Skip("MINSTREL_TEST_DATABASE_URL not set")
+	}
+	if err := db.Migrate(dsn, slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(io.Discard, nil))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("migrate: %v", err)
+	}
+	pool, err := pgxpool.New(context.Background(), dsn)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("pool: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(pool.Close)
+	if _, err := pool.Exec(context.Background(),
+		"TRUNCATE general_likes, general_likes_albums, general_likes_artists, play_events, skip_events, play_sessions, sessions, users, tracks, albums, artists RESTART IDENTITY CASCADE"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("truncate: %v", err)
+	}
+	return pool
+}
+
+type fixture struct {
+	pool   *pgxpool.Pool
+	q      *dbq.Queries
+	user   pgtype.UUID
+	tracks []dbq.Track // tracks[0] is the canonical seed
+}
+
+func newFixture(t *testing.T, n int) fixture {
+	t.Helper()
+	pool := testPool(t)
+	q := dbq.New(pool)
+	u, err := q.CreateUser(context.Background(), dbq.CreateUserParams{
+		Username: "tester", PasswordHash: "x", ApiToken: "x", IsAdmin: false,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("user: %v", err)
+	}
+	a, _ := q.UpsertArtist(context.Background(), dbq.UpsertArtistParams{Name: "A", SortName: "A"})
+	al, _ := q.UpsertAlbum(context.Background(), dbq.UpsertAlbumParams{Title: "B", SortTitle: "B", ArtistID: a.ID})
+	tracks := make([]dbq.Track, 0, n)
+	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
+		tr, err := q.UpsertTrack(context.Background(), dbq.UpsertTrackParams{
+			Title:      string(rune('A' + i)),
+			AlbumID:    al.ID,
+			ArtistID:   a.ID,
+			FilePath:   "/tmp/track-" + string(rune('A'+i)) + ".flac",
+			DurationMs: 120_000,
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("track[%d]: %v", i, err)
+		}
+		tracks = append(tracks, tr)
+	}
+	return fixture{pool: pool, q: q, user: u.ID, tracks: tracks}
+}
+
+func TestLoadCandidates_ExcludesSeed(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFixture(t, 5)
+	got, err := LoadCandidates(context.Background(), f.q, f.user, f.tracks[0].ID, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadCandidates: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(got) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("len = %d, want 4 (5 minus seed)", len(got))
+	}
+	for _, c := range got {
+		if c.Track.ID == f.tracks[0].ID {
+			t.Errorf("seed appeared in candidate set")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadCandidates_ExcludesRecentlyPlayed(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFixture(t, 3)
+	// Seed = tracks[0]. Other tracks are tracks[1], tracks[2].
+	// Insert a play_session and a play_event for tracks[1] 30 minutes ago.
+	now := time.Now().UTC()
+	thirtyMinAgo := now.Add(-30 * time.Minute)
+	sess, _ := f.q.InsertPlaySession(context.Background(), dbq.InsertPlaySessionParams{
+		UserID:    f.user,
+		StartedAt: pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: thirtyMinAgo, Valid: true},
+		ClientID:  nil,
+	})
+	_, _ = f.q.InsertPlayEvent(context.Background(), dbq.InsertPlayEventParams{
+		UserID:    f.user,
+		TrackID:   f.tracks[1].ID,
+		SessionID: sess.ID,
+		StartedAt: pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: thirtyMinAgo, Valid: true},
+		ClientID:  nil,
+	})
+
+	got, err := LoadCandidates(context.Background(), f.q, f.user, f.tracks[0].ID, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadCandidates: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Expect tracks[2] only (seed excluded, tracks[1] excluded by recently-played).
+	if len(got) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("len = %d, want 1; got=%v", len(got), trackTitles(got))
+	}
+	if got[0].Track.ID != f.tracks[2].ID {
+		t.Errorf("expected tracks[2], got %v", got[0].Track.Title)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadCandidates_StatJoin(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFixture(t, 2)
+	// Seed = tracks[0]. Like tracks[1]; play it twice (one skip, one full play) 2 hours ago.
+	if err := f.q.LikeTrack(context.Background(), dbq.LikeTrackParams{UserID: f.user, TrackID: f.tracks[1].ID}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("like: %v", err)
+	}
+	twoH := time.Now().UTC().Add(-2 * time.Hour)
+	sess, _ := f.q.InsertPlaySession(context.Background(), dbq.InsertPlaySessionParams{
+		UserID: f.user, StartedAt: pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: twoH, Valid: true},
+	})
+	// First play: completed (was_skipped=false).
+	pe1, _ := f.q.InsertPlayEvent(context.Background(), dbq.InsertPlayEventParams{
+		UserID: f.user, TrackID: f.tracks[1].ID, SessionID: sess.ID,
+		StartedAt: pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: twoH, Valid: true},
+	})
+	dur := int32(120_000)
+	ratio := 1.0
+	_, _ = f.q.UpdatePlayEventEnded(context.Background(), dbq.UpdatePlayEventEndedParams{
+		ID: pe1.ID, EndedAt: pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: twoH.Add(2 * time.Minute), Valid: true},
+		DurationPlayedMs: &dur, CompletionRatio: &ratio, WasSkipped: false,
+	})
+	// Second play: skipped (was_skipped=true).
+	pe2, _ := f.q.InsertPlayEvent(context.Background(), dbq.InsertPlayEventParams{
+		UserID: f.user, TrackID: f.tracks[1].ID, SessionID: sess.ID,
+		StartedAt: pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: twoH.Add(5 * time.Minute), Valid: true},
+	})
+	dur2 := int32(5_000)
+	ratio2 := 0.04
+	_, _ = f.q.UpdatePlayEventEnded(context.Background(), dbq.UpdatePlayEventEndedParams{
+		ID: pe2.ID, EndedAt: pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: twoH.Add(5*time.Minute + 5*time.Second), Valid: true},
+		DurationPlayedMs: &dur2, CompletionRatio: &ratio2, WasSkipped: true,
+	})
+
+	got, err := LoadCandidates(context.Background(), f.q, f.user, f.tracks[0].ID, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadCandidates: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(got) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("len = %d, want 1", len(got))
+	}
+	c := got[0]
+	if !c.Inputs.IsGeneralLiked {
+		t.Errorf("IsGeneralLiked = false, want true")
+	}
+	if c.Inputs.PlayCount != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("PlayCount = %d, want 2", c.Inputs.PlayCount)
+	}
+	if c.Inputs.SkipCount != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("SkipCount = %d, want 1", c.Inputs.SkipCount)
+	}
+	if c.Inputs.LastPlayedAt == nil {
+		t.Errorf("LastPlayedAt = nil, want non-nil")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadCandidates_NeverPlayedHasNilLastPlayed(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFixture(t, 2)
+	got, err := LoadCandidates(context.Background(), f.q, f.user, f.tracks[0].ID, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadCandidates: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(got) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("len = %d, want 1", len(got))
+	}
+	if got[0].Inputs.LastPlayedAt != nil {
+		t.Errorf("never-played track has non-nil LastPlayedAt: %v", got[0].Inputs.LastPlayedAt)
+	}
+	if got[0].Inputs.PlayCount != 0 || got[0].Inputs.SkipCount != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("never-played track has non-zero counts: %+v", got[0].Inputs)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLoadCandidates_CrossUserIsolation(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFixture(t, 2)
+	bob, _ := f.q.CreateUser(context.Background(), dbq.CreateUserParams{
+		Username: "bob", PasswordHash: "x", ApiToken: "y", IsAdmin: false,
+	})
+	// Alice likes tracks[1]; Bob shouldn't see it.
+	_ = f.q.LikeTrack(context.Background(), dbq.LikeTrackParams{UserID: f.user, TrackID: f.tracks[1].ID})
+
+	got, err := LoadCandidates(context.Background(), f.q, bob.ID, f.tracks[0].ID, 1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LoadCandidates: %v", err)
+	}
+	for _, c := range got {
+		if c.Track.ID == f.tracks[1].ID && c.Inputs.IsGeneralLiked {
+			t.Errorf("bob sees alice's like on track %v", c.Track.Title)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func trackTitles(cs []Candidate) []string {
+	out := make([]string, 0, len(cs))
+	for _, c := range cs {
+		out = append(out, c.Track.Title)
+	}
+	return out
+}