avoiding black friday so writing music. is this sounding a little stiff? anything to push back, forward left or right in the mix? just needs a Liz Fraser voice/singer and some lyrics and I think I will wrap it up, minus any comments from this always helpful community.
https://soundcloud.com/frostforus/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.

I liked this, primarily for the unusual instrumentation. Feels like a toy piano or bells up in the higher registers? You might bring them up a touch, or bass down a little. The mix is decent as is but I think it tiltls a little towards being bottom-heavy. You might bring up the sparkle a little!
 
If it were me, I'd take that snare and dry it up a little, but if you are shooting for the 80's, you have nailed it!
 
Also, your cymbal rolls/swells work pretty well! How'd you do those?
 
It's a nice composition you have here!
 
cheers,
-Tom

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

I like it.  I like it a lot actually.  I can see it in a movie soundtrack toward the end of the movie as our protagonist goes for a long, introspective walk. lol
 
...and I mean that as a compliment. lol
 

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

just needs a Liz Fraser voice/singer and some lyrics

 
Yes, definitely has a Cocteau Twins vibe, I like it.

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. 

daryl1968
By the way, stiff isn't always a bad thing..........

^^ this ^^
(is unacceptable )
 
Bass should have more "character" IMO.