Local music metadata not loading properly PMS 1.43.0.10231

Server Version#: 1.43.0.10231
Player Version#: 4.152.0

Since upgrading to the 1.43.0.10231 there has been very mixed results adding new music with local metadata - cover image, artist name etc - not reliably importing even with ‘refresh metadata’ or doing ‘analyze’ after importing.

Original audio files are fine and properly ID tagged etc. No multiple tag versions either.
Trash emptied, database optimized.

Has only started since 1.43.0.10231 - although several years ago I remember a similar issue occurring.

No errors in the logs except for this →

[Req#121e1a] MetadataAgentPostProcessor: error refreshing metadata for local://1112919

This seems like the same issue as - New Beta Version Breaks Local Metadata - #8 by drzoidberg33