too stiff? "never gold"

It does need a little something extra, perhaps some vox or a nice lead instrument, it is also perhaps a little on the wet side with the reverb.  Thanks for sharing.

Very cool - shades of Sigur Ros.
 
By the way, stiff isn't always a bad thing..........

It was interesting like in a movie. Nice voice also.

thanks everyone. i forgot to hit the "let me know when people respond" button so didn't know folks had actually checked in on it.
Tom: the cymbal swell is generated with several "hits" on the crash, with space between each hit. Then bring up the volume slowly over the course of the hits, then add reverb but pull most of the dry part of the mix off and give it plenty of "wet" and delay. That particular fx has a "widen" setting on it too and is set pretty wide, so gives it extra, uh, width. and I don't know what it is about me and snares. I just don't like them in my face so always sticking them down in the mix but smacky at the same time. like hitting a cardboard box inside of a water tank.
thanks again y'all. much appreciated. will take another whack at it when the egg nog wears off.