If E-SIDE introduced the lively wordplay behind YOASOBI’s vibrant synth-pop songs, then the English-language versions of the duo’s Japanese singles compiled on E-SIDE 2 showcase their sentimental heart. The tender production that fills the album’s latter half has a handcrafted feel, recalling the duo’s bedroom-pop roots. The J-pop cover videos that vocalist Ikura posted online caught the attention of composer Ayase, who was chosen as the producer of the YOASOBI project through his own self-arranged tracks shared on the internet. After the electro-pop buzz of opening track “The Blessing” has settled, the coziness in “Just a Little Step” and “Haruka” establishes an intimate atmosphere more fitting for a one-on-one dialogue, focusing on Ikura’s gratitude for the supportive relationships she’s fortunate to have in her life. That hard-won appreciation arrives after several songs that follow protagonists distanced from the people they love. In “If I Could Draw Life,” Ikura sounds resolute as she seamlessly lays down a knotty hip-hop flow with lyrics filled to the brim, yet she reveals her helplessness at watching a friend’s relationship collapse from afar. “Romance” spins tragedy into explosive baroque pop where the singer must accept a life of solitude, but not without indulging in some woe-is-me melodrama. The songs’ extensive lyrics reflect the literary background of YOASOBI, whose music was initially inspired by online short stories before expanding its creative sources as the project grew in popularity. The standouts on E-SIDE 2 turn cinematic as Ayase and Ikura blow up the emotions behind their inspirations into something larger than life.