Canucks0, you pose a tough question. I saw your post a few days ago and did not know how to respond. Not sure I'll do well now either...
I am a big fan of Peter Gabriel music from throughout his career. Nothing strikes me immediately as being "like Peter Gabriel" really - it's tough to think of artists who 'stretched out time' (varying tempos within a single line or verse, singing slowly, etc) on a record in the same way. The one who comes most easily to mind is David Bowie.
Other artists who fit into a similar "interesting, slightly off-the-beaten-path, intellectual, constantly searching" mold might be Robert Fripp, Brian Eno, David Bryne, and perhaps a slight nod to Bryan Ferry/RoxyMusic.