With seven members, the Fresno, Calif.–based band Fierce Creatures leaves no space unexplored with a myriad of instruments and sonic textures. “Ask for Lightning” opens 2012’s Catacomb Party with an unapologetic nod to The Flaming Lips, featuring grandiose arrangements, cinematic sweeps, and the Wayne Coyne–inspired nasal inflections of singer Mathr Collom. “Lover’s Vice” percolates at a lower heat; an organic drumbeat is layered over its electro-percussive foundation alongside acoustic guitar strumming, while Collom wails through what sounds like the toasted fidelity of toy walkie-talkie speakers. Amanda Valdez takes the mic on “For the World Is Hollow,” a gem of experimental indie brilliance that shines as brightly as anything on Grandaddy’s 2000 opus The Software Slump. As instantly catchy melodies emanate from swirling guitars, it’s easy to understand why Fierce Creatures chose to name their first album after “Catacomb Party.” With jangling six-string tones, static-textured production fizzing out like a Thurston Moore mix, stormy keyboard parts, and a palpable tension in the singing, this alluring song shows Fierce Creatures at their best.