diff --git a/frontend/dist/index.html b/frontend/dist/index.html
index 632e9cf..f571a1e 100644
--- a/frontend/dist/index.html
+++ b/frontend/dist/index.html
@@ -91,8 +91,9 @@
       }
 
       textarea {
-        min-height: 78px;
-        padding: 9px;
+        min-height: 64px;
+        height: 100%;
+        padding: 7px;
         resize: vertical;
         font-family: "JetBrains Mono", ui-monospace, monospace;
         font-size: 12px;
@@ -298,8 +299,9 @@
 
       .rt-actions {
         justify-content: flex-end;
-        min-height: 42px;
-        padding-block: 6px;
+        gap: 12px;
+        min-height: 40px;
+        padding-block: 5px;
         flex-wrap: wrap;
         border-color: oklch(0.22 0.01 260);
         background: oklch(0.163 0.009 260);
@@ -313,9 +315,31 @@
       }
 
       .rt-action-group {
+        display: inline-flex;
+        align-items: center;
+        gap: 4px;
+      }
+
+      .rt-action-cluster {
         display: inline-flex;
         align-items: center;
         gap: 6px;
+        padding-left: 12px;
+        border-left: 1px solid oklch(0.28 0.01 260);
+      }
+
+      .rt-action-cluster:first-child {
+        padding-left: 0;
+        border-left: 0;
+      }
+
+      .rt-action-label {
+        color: oklch(0.58 0.01 260);
+        font-family: "JetBrains Mono", ui-monospace, monospace;
+        font-size: 9px;
+        font-weight: 700;
+        letter-spacing: 0.8px;
+        text-transform: uppercase;
       }
 
       .rt-toast {
@@ -364,17 +388,14 @@
       .rt-rail-head,
       .rt-header-actions,
       .rt-row-actions,
-      .rt-track-tools,
-      .rt-cell-head,
-      .rt-cell-actions {
+      .rt-track-head,
+      .rt-cell-head {
         display: flex;
         align-items: center;
-        gap: 8px;
+        gap: 5px;
       }
 
-      .rt-rail-head,
-      .rt-cell-head,
-      .rt-cell-actions {
+      .rt-rail-head {
         justify-content: space-between;
       }
 
@@ -496,20 +517,20 @@
       .rt-block-grid,
       .rt-launch-grid {
         display: grid;
-        gap: 12px;
+        gap: 8px;
       }
 
       .rt-track,
       .rt-block,
       .rt-score,
       .rt-empty {
-        padding: 12px;
+        padding: 10px;
       }
 
       .rt-track {
         display: grid;
         grid-template-columns: minmax(190px, 220px) 1fr;
-        gap: 8px;
+        gap: 7px;
         border-color: oklch(0.24 0.01 260);
         border-left: 3px solid oklch(0.64 0.14 var(--track-hue));
         background: oklch(0.16 0.008 260);
@@ -519,17 +540,20 @@
       .rt-track-gutter {
         display: grid;
         align-content: start;
-        gap: 8px;
+        gap: 6px;
         padding: 1px 2px;
       }
 
-      .rt-track-gutter > input {
+      .rt-track-head input {
+        min-width: 0;
+        min-height: 28px;
+        padding: 0 7px;
         font-family: "Space Grotesk", ui-sans-serif, system-ui, sans-serif;
         font-weight: 600;
       }
 
-      .rt-track-tools {
-        justify-content: space-between;
+      .rt-track-head {
+        width: 100%;
       }
 
       .rt-block-actions,
@@ -546,7 +570,7 @@
 
       .rt-ctrls {
         display: grid;
-        gap: 9px;
+        gap: 6px;
       }
 
       .rt-ctrl {
@@ -571,8 +595,8 @@
 
       .rt-cell-strip {
         display: grid;
-        grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(210px, 1fr));
-        gap: 8px;
+        grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(190px, 1fr));
+        gap: 6px;
         align-items: stretch;
       }
 
@@ -601,7 +625,7 @@
 
       .rt-cell,
       .rt-cell-add {
-        min-height: 172px;
+        min-height: 138px;
         border: 1px solid oklch(0.27 0.01 260);
         border-radius: 8px;
         background: oklch(0.14 0.008 260);
@@ -609,12 +633,14 @@
 
       .rt-cell {
         display: grid;
-        gap: 8px;
-        padding: 10px;
+        grid-template-rows: auto minmax(0, 1fr) auto;
+        gap: 5px;
+        padding: 7px;
       }
 
       .rt-drag-handle {
-        width: 28px;
+        width: 24px;
+        min-width: 24px;
         min-height: 24px;
         display: inline-flex;
         align-items: center;
@@ -637,9 +663,9 @@
 
       .rt-cell-grip,
       .rt-cell-select {
-        width: 28px;
-        min-width: 28px;
-        height: 28px;
+        width: 24px;
+        min-width: 24px;
+        height: 24px;
         min-height: 24px;
         display: inline-flex;
         align-items: center;
@@ -662,11 +688,11 @@
 
       .rt-cell-select {
         appearance: auto;
-        width: 16px;
-        min-width: 16px;
-        height: 16px;
-        min-height: 16px;
-        margin: 0 6px;
+        width: 15px;
+        min-width: 15px;
+        height: 15px;
+        min-height: 15px;
+        margin: 0 3px;
         padding: 0;
         border-radius: 50%;
         color: oklch(0.68 0.03 200);
@@ -679,15 +705,16 @@
       }
 
       .rt-track-grip {
-        justify-self: start;
+        flex: 0 0 auto;
       }
 
       .rt-cell-head {
-        grid-template-columns: auto auto 1fr;
+        min-height: 26px;
       }
 
-      .rt-cell-state {
-        justify-self: end;
+      .rt-cell-spacer {
+        flex: 1 1 auto;
+        min-width: 4px;
       }
 
       .rt-track.is-track-drop-before {
diff --git a/frontend/src/Riptide/View/Shell.purs b/frontend/src/Riptide/View/Shell.purs
index 59fb683..21b37a5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Riptide/View/Shell.purs
+++ b/frontend/src/Riptide/View/Shell.purs
@@ -57,14 +57,14 @@ render actions app child =
         , HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-active" ] ] [ HH.text (activeLabel app) ]
         ]
     , HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-actions" ] ]
-        [ Icons.iconButton "New song" Add actions.newSong
-        , Icons.iconButton "New toolbox" Add actions.newToolbox
-        , HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-action-group" ] ]
-            [ Icons.iconButton "Export song" Download actions.exportSong
+        [ actionCluster "Song"
+            [ Icons.iconButton "New song" Add actions.newSong
+            , Icons.iconButton "Export song" Download actions.exportSong
             , Icons.iconButton "Import song" Upload actions.importSong
             ]
-        , HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-action-group" ] ]
-            [ Icons.iconButton "Export toolbox" Download actions.exportToolbox
+        , actionCluster "Toolbox"
+            [ Icons.iconButton "New toolbox" Add actions.newToolbox
+            , Icons.iconButton "Export toolbox" Download actions.exportToolbox
             , Icons.iconButton "Import toolbox" Upload actions.importToolbox
             ]
         ]
@@ -91,6 +91,13 @@ chipButton classes label action =
     , HH.span_ [ HH.text label ]
     ]
 
+actionCluster :: forall action slots m. String -> Array (HH.ComponentHTML action slots m) -> HH.ComponentHTML action slots m
+actionCluster label buttons =
+  HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-action-cluster" ] ]
+    [ HH.span [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-action-label" ] ] [ HH.text label ]
+    , HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-action-group" ] ] buttons
+    ]
+
 scopeClasses :: App -> Array HH.ClassName
 scopeClasses app =
   [ HH.ClassName "rt-chip", HH.ClassName "rt-scope", if scopeInvalid app then HH.ClassName "is-invalid" else HH.ClassName "is-valid" ]
diff --git a/frontend/src/Riptide/View/Song.purs b/frontend/src/Riptide/View/Song.purs
index 9bfd1f5..5000cf0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Riptide/View/Song.purs
+++ b/frontend/src/Riptide/View/Song.purs
@@ -153,23 +153,23 @@ trackRow actions app track =
       , HE.onDrop (actions.dropOn target)
       ]
       [ HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-track-gutter" ] ]
-          [ HH.button
-              [ HP.type_ HP.ButtonButton
-              , HP.title "Drag track"
-              , HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-drag-handle", HH.ClassName "rt-track-grip" ]
-              , HP.draggable true
-              , HE.onDragStart \_ -> actions.startTrackDrag track.id
-              , HE.onDragEnd \_ -> actions.endDrag
-              ]
-              [ Icons.icon Grip ]
-          , HH.input
-              [ HP.type_ HP.InputText
-              , HP.value track.name
-              , HE.onValueInput (actions.renameTrack track.id)
-              ]
-          , HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-track-tools" ] ]
+          [ HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-track-head" ] ]
               (
-              [ Icons.iconButton "Stop track" Stop (actions.stopTrack track.id)
+              [ HH.button
+                  [ HP.type_ HP.ButtonButton
+                  , HP.title "Drag track"
+                  , HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-drag-handle", HH.ClassName "rt-track-grip" ]
+                  , HP.draggable true
+                  , HE.onDragStart \_ -> actions.startTrackDrag track.id
+                  , HE.onDragEnd \_ -> actions.endDrag
+                  ]
+                  [ Icons.icon Grip ]
+              , HH.input
+                  [ HP.type_ HP.InputText
+                  , HP.value track.name
+                  , HE.onValueInput (actions.renameTrack track.id)
+                  ]
+              , Icons.iconButton "Stop track" Stop (actions.stopTrack track.id)
               ]
                 <> confirmDeleteButtons "track" confirming (actions.deleteTrack track.id) actions.cancelConfirm
               )
@@ -216,6 +216,7 @@ cellTile actions app track cell =
       , HE.onDrop (actions.dropOn target)
       ]
       [ HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-cell-head" ] ]
+          (
           [ HH.button
               [ HP.type_ HP.ButtonButton
               , HP.title "Drag cell"
@@ -236,7 +237,14 @@ cellTile actions app track cell =
               , HE.onClick \_ -> actions.selectCell track.id cell.id
               ]
           , HH.span [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-cell-state" ] ] [ HH.text (cellStateLabel result active selected editing) ]
+          , HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-cell-spacer" ] ] []
+          , Icons.iconButtonDisabled (if active then "Stop cell" else "Launch cell")
+              (if active then Stop else Play)
+              launchDisabled
+              (actions.toggleCell track.id cell.id)
           ]
+            <> confirmDeleteButtons "cell" confirming (actions.deleteCell track.id cell.id) actions.cancelConfirm
+          )
       , HH.textarea
           [ HP.value cell.code
           , HP.rows 3
@@ -245,15 +253,6 @@ cellTile actions app track cell =
           , HE.onBlur \_ -> actions.blurCell cell.id
           , HE.onValueInput (actions.editCode track.id cell.id)
           ]
-      , HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-cell-actions" ] ]
-          (
-          [ Icons.iconButtonDisabled (if active then "Stop cell" else "Launch cell")
-              (if active then Stop else Play)
-              launchDisabled
-              (actions.toggleCell track.id cell.id)
-          ]
-            <> confirmDeleteButtons "cell" confirming (actions.deleteCell track.id cell.id) actions.cancelConfirm
-          )
       , case result.error of
           Just err ->
             HH.div [ HP.classes [ HH.ClassName "rt-cell-error" ] ] [ HH.text err ]
diff --git a/gate.sh b/gate.sh
index 674ec44..8117be2 100755
--- a/gate.sh
+++ b/gate.sh
@@ -281,8 +281,26 @@ async function assertFrontendInteractions(cdp) {
     if (tracks.length === 0) failures.push("missing tracks");
 
     for (const track of tracks) {
-      const radios = [...track.querySelectorAll(".rt-cell-head input.rt-cell-select[type='radio']")];
       const cells = [...track.querySelectorAll(".rt-cell")];
+      const compactRows = [...track.querySelectorAll(".rt-cell > .rt-cell-head")];
+      const legacyActionRows = [...track.querySelectorAll(".rt-cell > .rt-cell-actions")];
+      if (compactRows.length !== cells.length) {
+        failures.push("track has " + compactRows.length + " compact cell strips for " + cells.length + " cells");
+      }
+      if (legacyActionRows.length !== 0) {
+        failures.push("legacy .rt-cell-actions row still exists");
+      }
+      for (const cell of cells) {
+        const strip = cell.querySelector(":scope > .rt-cell-head");
+        if (!strip?.querySelector(".rt-cell-grip")) failures.push("compact cell strip is missing drag grip");
+        if (!strip?.querySelector("input.rt-cell-select[type='radio']")) failures.push("compact cell strip is missing native radio");
+        if (!strip?.querySelector(".rt-cell-state")) failures.push("compact cell strip is missing state badge");
+        if (!strip?.querySelector(".rt-cell-spacer")) failures.push("compact cell strip is missing flex spacer");
+        if (!strip?.querySelector("button[title='Launch cell'], button[title='Stop cell']")) failures.push("compact cell strip is missing launch/stop action");
+        if (!strip?.querySelector(".rt-danger[title='Delete cell'], .rt-danger[title='Confirm delete cell']")) failures.push("compact cell strip is missing delete action");
+      }
+
+      const radios = [...track.querySelectorAll(".rt-cell-head input.rt-cell-select[type='radio']")];
       if (radios.length !== cells.length) {
         failures.push("track has " + radios.length + " radio selectors for " + cells.length + " cells");
         continue;
@@ -325,6 +343,43 @@ async function assertFrontendInteractions(cdp) {
       failures.push("old eye select button still exists in cell headers");
     }
 
+    if (document.querySelector(".rt-track-tools")) {
+      failures.push("legacy .rt-track-tools wrapper still exists");
+    }
+    for (const track of tracks) {
+      const row = track.querySelector(".rt-track-gutter > .rt-track-head");
+      if (!row) {
+        failures.push("track gutter is missing compact track head");
+        continue;
+      }
+      if (!row.querySelector(".rt-track-grip")) failures.push("compact track head is missing drag grip");
+      if (!row.querySelector("input")) failures.push("compact track head is missing track name input");
+      if (!row.querySelector("button[title='Stop track']")) failures.push("compact track head is missing stop action");
+      if (!row.querySelector(".rt-danger[title='Delete track'], .rt-danger[title='Confirm delete track']")) failures.push("compact track head is missing delete action");
+      const ctrls = track.querySelector(".rt-track-gutter > .rt-ctrls");
+      if (!ctrls || row.compareDocumentPosition(ctrls) !== Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_FOLLOWING) {
+        failures.push("track sliders are not below the compact track head");
+      }
+    }
+
+    const songGroup = [...document.querySelectorAll(".rt-action-cluster")]
+      .find((group) => group.querySelector(".rt-action-label")?.textContent.trim() === "Song");
+    const toolboxGroup = [...document.querySelectorAll(".rt-action-cluster")]
+      .find((group) => group.querySelector(".rt-action-label")?.textContent.trim() === "Toolbox");
+    if (!songGroup) failures.push("missing labeled Song global action cluster");
+    if (!toolboxGroup) failures.push("missing labeled Toolbox global action cluster");
+    for (const [label, group, titles] of [
+      ["Song", songGroup, ["New song", "Export song", "Import song"]],
+      ["Toolbox", toolboxGroup, ["New toolbox", "Export toolbox", "Import toolbox"]],
+    ]) {
+      if (!group) continue;
+      for (const title of titles) {
+        if (!group.querySelector("button[title='" + title + "'], button[aria-label='" + title + "']")) {
+          failures.push(label + " global action cluster is missing " + title);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
     for (const grip of document.querySelectorAll(".rt-drag-handle")) {
       const circles = [...grip.querySelectorAll("svg circle")];
       const lines = [...grip.querySelectorAll("svg line")];
@@ -350,17 +405,17 @@ async function assertFrontendInteractions(cdp) {
 
   await evaluateOrThrow(cdp, `(() => {
     const cell = document.querySelector(".rt-cell.is-stopped.has-text-idle.is-valid");
-    const button = cell?.querySelector('.rt-cell-actions button[title="Launch cell"]:not(:disabled)');
+    const button = cell?.querySelector('.rt-cell-head button[title="Launch cell"]:not(:disabled)');
     if (!cell || !button) throw new Error("missing enabled launchable stopped cell action");
     button.click();
   })()`);
-  await waitForCondition(cdp, `(() => Boolean(document.querySelector(".rt-cell.is-active-playing .rt-cell-actions button[title='Stop cell']:not(:disabled)")))()`, 2000, "launchable cell did not become active with enabled stop action");
+  await waitForCondition(cdp, `(() => Boolean(document.querySelector(".rt-cell.is-active-playing .rt-cell-head button[title='Stop cell']:not(:disabled)")))()`, 2000, "launchable cell did not become active with enabled stop action");
   await evaluateOrThrow(cdp, `(() => {
-    const button = document.querySelector(".rt-cell.is-active-playing .rt-cell-actions button[title='Stop cell']:not(:disabled)");
+    const button = document.querySelector(".rt-cell.is-active-playing .rt-cell-head button[title='Stop cell']:not(:disabled)");
     if (!button) throw new Error("missing enabled stop action for active cell");
     button.click();
   })()`);
-  await waitForCondition(cdp, `(() => Boolean(document.querySelector(".rt-cell.is-stopped .rt-cell-actions button[title='Launch cell']:not(:disabled)")))()`, 2000, "second launch click did not stop/un-arm the active cell");
+  await waitForCondition(cdp, `(() => Boolean(document.querySelector(".rt-cell.is-stopped .rt-cell-head button[title='Launch cell']:not(:disabled)")))()`, 2000, "second launch click did not stop/un-arm the active cell");
 
   await evaluateOrThrow(cdp, `(() => {
     const cell = [...document.querySelectorAll(".rt-cell")]
diff --git a/specs/037-compact-controls/plan.md b/specs/037-compact-controls/plan.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c6c5d37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/specs/037-compact-controls/plan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# Implementation Plan
+
+## Tech stack
+
+- PureScript Halogen frontend.
+- Static CSS in `frontend/dist/index.html`.
+- Existing repository gate in `gate.sh`, including headless Chromium interaction smoke.
+
+## Slice strategy
+
+This is one vertical frontend cleanup slice. The markup and CSS changes are tightly coupled, and the render smoke must move with the renamed/removed control containers.
+
+## Slice 1: compact controls and global labels
+
+Owned implementation surface:
+
+- `frontend/src/Riptide/View/Song.purs`
+- `frontend/src/Riptide/View/Shell.purs`
+- `frontend/dist/index.html`
+- `gate.sh`
+
+Expected changes:
+
+- In `Song.purs`, restructure cell tile controls into one strip and track gutter controls into one row above sliders.
+- In `Shell.purs`, group top-bar global actions into labeled Song and Toolbox clusters with visible labels and retained tooltips.
+- In `index.html`, tighten spacing and sizes for cells, tracks, controls, and global action groups.
+- In `gate.sh`, update smoke selectors to assert the new control structure and continue verifying preserved behavior.
+
+## Verification
+
+- Run `./gate.sh`.
+- Inspect the browser-rendered frontend in headless smoke, with selectors proving the layout is compact and the core interactions still work.
diff --git a/specs/037-compact-controls/spec.md b/specs/037-compact-controls/spec.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..972e347
--- /dev/null
+++ b/specs/037-compact-controls/spec.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Issue 37: compact controls and labeled global actions
+
+## P1 user story
+
+As a riptide user arranging tracks and cells, I need each editable unit to keep its controls in a compact, predictable place so the code area stays prominent and global song/toolbox actions are unambiguous.
+
+## Scope
+
+- Collapse each cell's header/actions into one compact strip.
+- Collapse each track gutter's grip/name/stop/delete controls into one compact row above the existing VOL/FLT/DLY sliders.
+- Reduce empty padding, gaps, and min-height where the current layout creates unused space.
+- Group top-bar global actions into visible Song and Toolbox clusters, preserving tooltips.
+
+## Functional requirements
+
+- FR-037-001: Cell markup has a single top strip containing the drag grip, native radio selector, state badge, spacer, play/stop button, and delete/confirm/cancel controls.
+- FR-037-002: The separate bottom `.rt-cell-actions` row is removed; the textarea occupies the remaining vertical space.
+- FR-037-003: Track gutter markup has a compact row containing drag grip, track name, stop, and delete/confirm/cancel controls, followed by the existing control sliders.
+- FR-037-004: The separate `.rt-track-tools` box is removed.
+- FR-037-005: Global action buttons are grouped into labeled Song and Toolbox clusters: new, export, import.
+- FR-037-006: Existing interaction behavior remains intact: radio select is mutually exclusive per track, drag grips still drag, play/stop still toggles/un-arms a cell, and delete remains two-step with cancel.
+
+## Success criteria
+
+- `./gate.sh` passes.
+- Browser smoke verifies one compact strip per cell, no legacy `.rt-cell-actions` row, no `.rt-track-tools` wrapper, labeled Song/Toolbox action clusters, and preserved interactions.
+- `nix build .#frontend` passes.
diff --git a/specs/037-compact-controls/tasks.md b/specs/037-compact-controls/tasks.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f6ff9e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/specs/037-compact-controls/tasks.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Tasks
+
+## Slice 1 - compact controls and global labels
+
+- [X] T037-S1 Restructure cell controls into a single compact top strip and remove the separate bottom action row.
+- [X] T037-S1 Restructure track gutter controls into one compact top row and remove the separate track tools box.
+- [X] T037-S1 Group global action buttons into visible Song and Toolbox clusters with retained tooltips.
+- [X] T037-S1 Tighten CSS spacing, gaps, padding, and minimum heights so cell textareas use the available space.
+- [X] T037-S1 Update render-smoke selectors for the new markup while preserving radio, drag glyph, play/stop, and delete/cancel checks.
+- [X] T037-S1 Run `./gate.sh` and commit one bisect-safe slice with the required trailer.