Ångström: A BBC Radio Comedy

Knut Ångström is a brooding, alcoholic, maverick Swedish detective from the mean streets of Oslo. Following the deaths of his beloved wife Christa and cheeky duck Elvin, he is posted to the Njalsland peninsula, where he becomes embroiled in a labyrinthine mystery which bears an eerie similarity to the Askeladden killings - a case from his distant past. Arriving at a secluded valley after an anonymous tip-off, Ångström finds his crime scene is missing a corpse. It seems the attack was so brutal that it's obliterated all trace of the body (or maybe there was no murder?) But Ångström is undeterred, and together with young, blue-haired investigative reporter Mina Oblong, he follows his hunch to the offices of Councillor Birgit Lundstrom. But when Lundstrom turns up dead, Ångström himself is in the frame for her murder. Determined to clear his name, he seeks the help of Benny from ABBA - but why is Benny from ABBA suddenly Mexican? A clue left by the killer leads Ångström and Mina from a novelty troll factory to the remote Celibate Puffin Island (but it's all one word in Swedish) where they find a possible connection between the Askeladden murders and the sinister Bolax Corporation - and get one step closer to discovering the identity of the mysterious Ash Lad.... This gag-packed, snow-packed, flat-packed Scandi-spoof was created by Joel Morris and Jason Hazeley (The Ladybird Books for Grown Ups, Charlie Brooker's ...Wipe,That Mitchell and Webb Look, A Touch of Cloth) and stars the Perrier Award-winning Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi's Darkplace) as Knut Ångström.

Absurdity in the Fjords: Ångström, a Radio Gem for the Laughingly Cynical

Prepare to plunge into a snow-dusted world of murder, mayhem, and Benny from ABBA's sudden penchant for mariachi music. "Ångström," a BBC Radio 4 comedy created by Joel Morris and Jason Hazeley, is not your typical detective yarn. It's a flat-packed Scandi-spoof, crammed with gags as tight as a herring in a sardine can.

Our brooding hero, Knut Ångström, is about as far from suave Bond as you can get. Grieving his wife and duck (yes, you read that right), he's exiled to the icy Njalsland peninsula, where a case with whispers of the Askeladden murders ignites his inner sleuth. But this crime scene is missing a key ingredient: the corpse. Is it a phantom attack, or a cover-up by the sinister Bolax Corporation?

Along the way, Ångström teams up with Mina Oblong, a blue-haired reporter determined to break the story, and Benny from ABBA, now inexplicably Mexican. The resulting trio is a comedy goldmine, their interactions infused with absurdist wit and deadpan delivery. Matthew Holness, a Perrier Award-winning master of awkward brilliance, embodies Ångström with a gruff charm that makes you root for him despite his dubious methods.

The plot itself is a labyrinthine wonderland of red herrings, ludicrous twists, and enough Scandinavian quirkiness to fill aIKEA flatpack warehouse. Troll factories, celibate puffins, and Benny's inexplicable love for sombreros become weapons in this hilarious battle against corporate malfeasance.

But underneath the surface of silliness, "Ångström" has a surprising amount of heart. Ångström grapples with grief and isolation, finding solace in the strange bond with Mina and his pursuit of justice. The show's creators manage to weave genuine emotion into the absurdity, making us laugh and care for these oddball characters.

If you're looking for a radio comedy that's anything but ordinary, "Ångström" is your Nordic noir nirvana. It's Monty Python meets Fargo, seasoned with a sprinkle of lutefisk and a dash of existential dread. Prepare to be bewildered, amused, and possibly crave pickled herring. Just don't ask where Benny got his maracas.

Highlights:

Hilariously absurd plot with endless twists and turns
Stellar cast, led by the brilliant Matthew Holness
Sharp writing, balancing absurdity with genuine emotion
Uniquely Scandinavian brand of humor, guaranteed to raise an eyebrow (and a chuckle)

Final Verdict:

"Ångström" is a must-listen for anyone who enjoys their comedy dark, strange, and side-splittingly funny. Just be prepared for the possibility that you might never look at Benny from ABBA the same way again.