Try simple MB search in case artist is an alias

Author: asardaes

beetsplug/musicbrainz.py

@@ -926,18 +926,31 @@ def _search_api(
         self,
         query_type: Literal["recording", "release"],
         filters: dict[str, str],
+        advanced: bool = True,
+        *args,
     ) -> list[JSONDict]:
         """Perform MusicBrainz API search and return results.
 
         Execute a search against the MusicBrainz API for recordings or releases
-        using the provided criteria. Handles API errors by converting them into
-        MusicBrainzAPIError exceptions with contextual information.
+        using the provided criteria.
         """
-        query = " AND ".join(
-            f'{k}:"{_v}"'
-            for k, v in filters.items()
-            if (_v := v.lower().strip())
-        )
+        if advanced:
+            query = " AND ".join(
+                f'{k}:"{_v}"'
+                for k, v in filters.items()
+                if (_v := v.lower().strip())
+            )
+        else:
+            params = itertools.chain(
+                (str(arg) for arg in args),
+                (
+                    f'{k}:"{_v}"'
+                    for k, v in filters.items()
+                    if (_v := v.lower().strip())
+                ),
+            )
+            query = " ".join(params)
+
         self._log.debug(
             "Searching for MusicBrainz {}s with: {!r}", query_type, query
         )
@@ -953,7 +966,15 @@ def candidates(
         va_likely: bool,
     ) -> Iterable[AlbumInfo]:
         criteria = self.get_album_criteria(items, artist, album, va_likely)
-        release_ids = (r["id"] for r in self._search_api("release", criteria))
+        release_ids = [r["id"] for r in self._search_api("release", criteria)]
+
+        if len(release_ids) == 0 and "artist" in criteria:
+            # try a less advanced search if va_likely is False
+            del criteria["artist"]
+            release_ids = [
+                r["id"]
+                for r in self._search_api("release", criteria, False, artist)
+            ]
 
         for id_ in release_ids:
             with suppress(HTTPNotFoundError):